Alan Cayetano: Cha-cha needed but there should be proper timing

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday acknowledged the need for reforms in the 1987 Constitution, but proper timing should be considered.

Cayetano made the remark after the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), composed of over 1,000 mayors, came up with a resolution endorsing constitutional reforms supposedly to empower local government units (LGUs) in the country.

"Walang kaduda-duda na kailangan ng Charter change. Ang question lang sa ating lahat ay timing," Cayetano said in a press conference in Taguig City.

According to Cayetano, while Charter change can be discussed at this time, he does not see a plebiscite to approve the proposed constitutional reforms happening any time soon, considering that the country is still facing the threat of COVID-19.

"So very interested pa rin ang Kongreso diyan but we're also practical. I think people should discuss it but they should not worry that it will be rammed down their throat," he said.

"We only want constitutional change if the people want it and want it very badly, that's why dini-discuss," he added.

Cayetano slammed critics of the administration whom he said have always been complaining yet dismiss the solutions offered by constitutional reforms.

"Ang problema kasi sa mga statements tulad ng kay Vice President Leni [Robredo] at ng iba, sa isang banda sisisihin nila ang Kongreso, tapos kung ang solusyon naman ay Charter change, ayaw naman nila," he said.

"So kung sino yung mga tumutuligsa sa effect nung Constitution, yun din ang mga ayaw ma-amend ang Constitution," he added.

For one, he cited the issue on the ABS-CBN franchise application, which the House Committee on Legislative Franchises denied recently.

"Kayong nagsasabi na ABS-CBN is an issue of press freedom, I'm sure gusto niyo nang alisin sa Kongreso yung power na magbigay ng franchise. Pero hindi magagawa yan kung walang constitutional change," he said.

"Kung gusto niyong baguhin yan, hindi kayang baguhin ng legislation lang yan. Babaguhin yan through constitutional change," he added.

For now, Cayetano said the House of Representatives will take a "dual route" by trying to amend the Constitution and also passing laws to partially address issues that constitutional reforms can resolve.

"Having said that, the Committee on Local Government as well as the Committee on Appropriation, the Committee on Ways and Means, and si Deputy Speaker [Luis Raymund] Villafuerte are working on the amendments on the Local Government Code," he said.

"Ibig sabihin, kung hindi magawa ang federalism, pwedeng unahin muna ang economic federalism and more autonomy for LGUs. So we can approach it na parallel," he added.

House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chair Rufus Rodriguez announced earlier in the day that he will convene his panel to discuss the proposed constitutional reforms of the LMP around two weeks after the opening of the Second Regular Session of the 18th Congress on July 27.  — DVM, GMA News