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CHA-CHA, DEATH PENALTY INCLUDED

Senate minority to ‘block’ four proposals pushed by Duterte


The six-member minority group in the Senate will “block” at least four measures being pushed by President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Tuesday. 

At a press conference, Trillanes said the four measures are:

  • the postponement of the October barangay elections,
  • amendments to the 1987 Constitution,
  • death penalty, and
  • the lowering of the minimum age of criminal liability 

“Lahat yan haharangin ng minority,” he told reporters. 

Trillanes said this was agreed upon by the group before Congress went on a break on March 15. 

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan confirmed in a text message that the minority bloc will oppose all four measures.

Apart from Trillanes and Pangilinan, the other four members of the minority bloc are Senators Franklin Drilon, Leila de Lima, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, and Risa Hontiveros. 

Duterte’s allies in the House of Representatives are pushing for both the reinstatement of capital punishment and the lowering of age of criminal liability. The death penalty, in fact, has already been approved on third and final reading. 

Duterte, meanwhile, earlier said that he is considering appointing barangay captains instead of pushing through with the elections this year. 

He is also pushing for Charter change (Cha-cha) to start the switch to federalism. 

Trillanes criticized Duterte’s plan to appoint barangay officials saying the President only wants “total control of the political apparatus of society.” 

“Malabo yan. The barangay elections, for all intents and purposes, would push through by October,” he said. 

Meanwhile, discussions on Cha-cha have yet to be scheduled for another committee hearing. The Senate committee on constitutional amendments is chaired by Pangilinan. 

“Definitely, hindi yan lulusot. We will not allow ourselves to be convened as a constituent assembly (con-ass), unless and until, ma-clarify yung voting process. It should be separate,” Trillanes said. 

Duterte’s preferred mode of Cha-cha is con-ass, while the voting of the two houses of Congress will be determined by the consultative body on constitutional amendments created by Executive Order No. 10. — RSJ, GMA News

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