Zubiri: Filipinos might reject Cha-cha if political provisions will be amended

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday warned that Filipinos might totally reject Charter change (Cha-cha) if political provisions of the 1987 Constitution will be amended.

This was Zubiri’s statement after Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon sent a letter to the Senate and the House of Representatives, urging lawmakers to include political amendments in the ongoing Cha-cha talks.

The Senate chief cited the latest Pulse Asia survey which showed that at least 88% of Filipinos are against amending the 1987 Constitution at the moment.

“Wala po kaming pinag-uusapan na political provisions. Ayaw na nga ng tao– 9 out of 10 ng ating mga kababayan, that’s 88 percent…economic nga lang ‘yan eh. Ano [pa] kaya kung may political pa? Baka zero na ang susuporta d’yan. So napakatindi,” Zubiri said in an ambush interview.

[We are not discussing political provisions. The public is against it (Charter change), and that’s only economic (provisions), what more if the political provisions. It could go down to zero support.]

With the latest study, Zubiri also warned that the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution might be rejected by the people in the plebiscite.

“We also have to be practical with the ratings like that. Maipapasa ba natin ‘yan sa plebisito? ‘Di ba? We’re spending a lot of money and time on a very controversial measure and then mamaya matatalo lang, magkakaroon ng ‘no’ vote sa plebisito,” he said.

[Will it pass thru the plebiscite? We’re spending a lot of money and time on a very controversial measure and then, it will just get a ‘No’ vote in the plebiscite.]

“Kung hindi pa makakuha ng majority vote ‘yan, sayang din ang lahat ng aksyon na ginagawa natin. So, I would suggest let’s study carefully. ‘Wag natin madaliin… Hindi lamang hala bira ipasa natin ‘to kasi baka nga pagdating sa plebisito, hindi pa handa ang tao, talo ang Charter change at amendments na ‘yan,” he added.

[If that won’t get a majority vote, all our efforts will go for naught. So I would suggest let’s study carefully. Let us not rush things. When it is subjected to a plebiscite and the people are not ready, Charter change will be defeated along with the proposed amendments.]

While he admitted that the Pulse Asia survey “plays a big factor” in the ongoing Cha-cha talks, Zubiri said the Senate subcommittee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, chaired by Senator Sonny Angara, will continue the hearings in May and they will conduct public consultations in Baguio, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro to “listen to the pulse of the Filipino people.”

Apart from Zubiri, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also opposed the proposal to include political provisions in Cha-cha talks.

Gatchalian, who is for amending certain economic provisions of the Constitution, said Cha-cha should already stop if political amendments will be included in the discussions.

On March 20, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 7 which seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution and allow foreign ownership in vital industries.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the proposed removal of constitutional limitations on the foreign ownership in certain sectors was the “last piece in the puzzle of investment measures” of the Marcos administration.

The Senate, on the other hand, is still discussing RBH 6 which also focuses on amending certain economic provisions of the Constitution. Senate leaders believe there is no need to rush the passage of the measure.

RBH 6 was filed after the Senate and the House leadership made an agreement before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. where the Upper House will lead the deliberations on the amendments to the 1987 Constitution as long as the people’s initiative, which is believed to be supported by congressmen, including House Speaker Martin Romualdez, will be halted.

Efforts to amend the Constitution via people’s initiative has become controversial after several lawmakers disclosed that some of the signatories were allegedly bribed or promised with government aids.

The Senate unanimously released a manifesto against the present people’s initiative efforts, saying the House is out to abolish the Senate given that the document for signature asks voters to if they are in favor of amending the Charter to allow members of Congress to jointly vote on constitutional amendments, a setup which would consider the vote of 24 Senators and more than 300 House members. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News