Zubiri on Cha-cha: Surveys needed first

MANILA, Philippines — Moves to amend the 1987 Constitution should first have the imprimatur of the people, which can be gauged by conducting surveys on Charter change, according to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

In a radio dwIZ interview yesterday, Zubiri said going the route of a people’s initiative is one option to propose amendments to the Constitution that has the backing of the people.

He was referring to one mode of Charter change wherein amendments to the Charter are proposed “by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least 12 per centum of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum of the registered voters therein,” according to Section 2, Article XVII of the Constitution.

The amendments to the Constitution will also have to go through a plebiscite.

“I think we should also get the people’s wish because it will have to go through a plebiscite,” Zubiri said.

He suggested that reputable survey organizations such as Pulse Asia, Social Weather Stations and OCTA get the sentiment of the people before Charter change proponents go through the process of pitching amendments.

“I would suggest that they conduct surveys first and see the pulse of the people. Whether they agree with Charter change or not, let us listen to them,” Zubiri said in Filipino.

The Senate President said Charter change faces rough sailing in the Senate because some of his colleagues are either totally against changing the Charter, or are open to it but against lifting term limits.

“But as far as I’m concerned, ceasefire muna. Let’s enjoy the Christmas season. Let’s cross the bridge when we get there,” Zubiri said.

“Like the President said, it is being studied. Let’s wait for them to come out with the results of the study before we talk about Charter change,” he added.

In the Senate, it was PDP-Laban Senator Robin Padilla who led the Charter change moves, starting with easing the restrictive economic provisions which did not get his peers’ support.

Padilla later was emboldened to seek an amendment of the political provisions after the House of Representatives under Speaker Martin Romualdez