House to adopt Senate’s economic Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines — Party stalwarts in the House of Representatives urged their Senate counterparts yesterday to show their sincerity in introducing economic constitutional reforms by passing Resolution of Both Houses 6, which the congressmen promised to adopt in full.

“Pass your version of RBH 6, where there are no political provisions, only economic provisions, and we will be one with the Senate. We will no longer ask for any debates. No questions asked,” House Majority Leader and Zamboanga del Norte 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe said at a briefing.

“If they want, we can even do a blood compact just like what Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said,” Dalipe added, noting that senators have always blocked Charter change efforts, even when a constituent assembly was proposed.

“If I will be asked what I will tell the Senate, just pass the RBH of Senator (Juan Miguel) Zubiri so that plebiscite for the people’s initiative can no longer be held. It is clear in our law that you cannot have two (plebiscites) in a span of five years,” he said over radio dzBB.

Dalipe noted the senators could just move ahead before the completion of people’s initiative to end “whatever their reservation and doubts.”

“Actually, people’s initiative is not a hindrance. People’s initiative will also have to pass a referendum. Whoever can pass their first version, that will be decided upon in plebiscite,” he added.

Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. recalled that no less than Zubiri promised to President Marcos, as well as the Speaker, that he can have RBH-6 passed, but they were surprised about the senator’s total turnaround.

“My worry is just that they may not be able to get the 18 votes needed, just like what he promised us. SP Migz told us he can have it passed by March,” he told newsmen, adding this was the agreement, if the people’s initiative will be stopped.

Rep. Geraldine Roman of Bataan recalled that many of the senators have been congressmen themselves, and that she wonders why they have reversed themselves now that they have been elected senators, when in truth and in fact, they also supported Cha-cha when they were in House.

“Let’s