Ex-House Speaker Alvarez believes Romualdez eyeing presidency amid Cha-cha push

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24) --- Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday claimed that House Speaker Martin Romualdez could be gunning for a higher post in the next elections amid the strong push by the lower chamber to amend the 1987 Constitution.

“Dito, alam naman natin lahat na talagang sumusulong nito yung speaker of the House of Representatives itong si Martin Romualdez,” Alvarez told CNN Philippines’ Politics as Usual on Wednesday. “May sariling ambisyon, eh gusto maging pangulo ng Pilipinas.”

[Translation: We all know that House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez has been pushing for this [...] He has an ambition and that is to become the next president of the Philippines.]

Romualdez earlier said that charter change will be among the lower chamber’s top priority in 2024 while also expressing its committment to people’s initiative, a way to amend the 1987 Constitution through a signature drive.

But he denied giving orders to congressmen to gather signatures for charter change.

Alvarez, a former House speaker, said he is skeptical of charter change under the Marcos administration despite being an advocate of federalism during Rodrigo Duterte’s term.

“Hindi ako sang-ayon na buksan yung amendment ng ating saligang batas ngayon dahil iba ang sitwasyon nung time ni former President Rodrigo Duterte,” he said.

[Translation: I’m not in favor of amending the Constitution now because it was a very different situation during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.]

“Kung maalala po natin bumuo pa siya ng constitutional commission na pinamunaan ni former Chief Justice Renato Puno at mga miyembro nito, lahat ay mapagkakatiwalaan,” Alvarez recalled.

[Translation: To recall, he even formed a constitutional commission led by former Chief Justice Renato Puno and all its members can be trusted.]

The lawmaker said there is a lack of transparency in the present administration’s push for constitutional amendment.

“Kailangan transparent, ilatag nila, ano ang dapat baguhin natin," Alvarez pointed out. "Hayaan mo 'yung Senado, House of Representatives magbigay ng kanilang komentaryo dun sa mga provisions na gusto nila palitan."

[Translation: They should be transparent and bare what should we amended. They should allow both the Senate and the House of Representatives to comment on the provisions they want to amend.]

CNN Philippines has reached out to Romualdez’s camp for comment.

Although the people's initiative has already gained ground in the House, the Senate put on hold the discussions on charter change due to doubts on the legitimacy of the signatures gathered.