Senators won’t go along with Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate would most likely not support the effort of the House of Representatives to have the 1987 Constitution amended, with many congressmen insisting that Congress would vote jointly and not separately.

Charter change was one of the “pressing urgent concerns” discussed during an all-member Senate caucus on Wednesday, less than two weeks before the resumption of the second regular session of the 19th Congress on Jan. 22.

Sixteen senators attended the session.

While senators are bound to uphold the secrecy of discussions in an executive session, some of them issued statements to the media expressing their opposition to efforts to amend the Constitution.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva called to “stop the deception and threats just to prioritize the personal interests of those who are greedy to stay in office. Stop denying our countrymen aid just because they did not sign the petition of the so-called people’s initiative.”

“Let’s not deceive the people that we need Charter change to solve society’s problems. This is not the answer to stomach aches, unemployment, the coming El Niño and the constant increase in the price of basic commodities,” Villanueva added.

“Just be honest. We know that the real reason why they insist on dissolving the Senate is to control power under a unilateral or single Congress. Above all, they want to extend their terms,” he noted.

The national lead convenor of People’s Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action (PIRMA) revived its advocacy to amend the 1987 Constitution via the people’s initiative and admitted its goal is to see senators and congressmen “voting jointly” on Charter change proposals.

PIRMA national lead convenor Noel Oñate confirmed that his group was behind the signature campaign in various areas in the country. He added that PIRMA aims to finish the signature drive by June at the earliest and the signatures will be submitted to the Comelec.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said lawmakers will make another pitch for constitutional amendments this year, focusing on economic provisions deemed “very prohibitive.”

Like Villanueva, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito said, “There are too many