Senate halts Cha-cha talks due to people's initiative push

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24) — Senators put on hold discussions on Charter change while efforts continue for a people's initiative.

In a text message to reporters, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel said the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 is suspended at the Senate.

"Because the PI is apparently continuing and reports are 'congressmen are behind it', hence our question is: why are congressmen in effect pushing two modes?" Pimentel said. "There is bad faith somewhere."

Senator Sonny Angara, meanwhile, said, "It's clear that the people's initiative is not a genuine people's initiative."

Angara also confirmed that RBH No. 6 is shelved due to the continued push for people's initiative, a way to change the 1987 Constitution through a signature campaign.

RBH No. 6, filed by Angara along with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, proposes changes to certain economic provisions of the charter.

Senator Bong Revilla urged his fellow congressmen to focus on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s pronouncements that the priority should be amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

READ: Marcos open to change Constitution to fit 'globalized world'

"Dapat open tayong i-akma ang Saligang Batas sa mga pangangailangan ng panahon, pertaining to its economic provisions. Pero, hindi dapat sa mga critical areas like foreign ownership of land, energy, and media," Revilla said. "Yan din naman ang spirit intent ng RBH 6."

[Translation: We should be open to adapting the Constitution to the needs of the time, pertaining to its economic provisions. However, it should not be in critical areas like foreign ownership of land, energy, and media. That's also the spirit intent of RBH 6.]

READ: ‘War on two fronts:’ Lawmakers torn on Senate push for Cha-cha review

Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito said the people's initiative push could result in a constitutional crisis.

"This might really lead to a constitutional crisis as both houses are head on on the issue of PI," Ejercito said. "Was hoping that both leaders of both houses honor the agreement in front of PBBM (Marcos) to avert such a scenario."

All 24 senators signed a manifesto against the push for Cha-cha via people's initiative as they warned of a no-election scenario and amendments that are seen to "erode the nation as we know it."

They said it would destabilize the system of checks and balances, leaving the Senate's 24 votes insignificant against those of the 316 members of the House of Representatives.

READ: Senate releases manifesto vs 'sinister' people's initiative