Defensor: Cha-cha talks to cause division in Congress, public

Anakalusugan party-list Representative Mike Defensor on Monday questioned the timing of the deliberations on the proposed amendments in the 1987 Constitution, saying that it may only cause division not just in Congress but in the public in general.

Defensor made the remark ahead of the meeting of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments to discuss the proposed amendments to the "restrictive" economic provisions in the Constitution, initiated no less than by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

In a virtual interview with reporters, Defensor said the issue on Charter change (Cha-cha) is proven to be a "very divisive" one, what with the contradicting comments of netizens on social media as well as of lawmakers from both the House and the Senate.

"I don't think it's the proper time to discuss Charter change. Hindi ito yung panahon kasi nga hindi natin maiwasan, tinamaan tayo ng pandemya, may problema tayo pang-ekonomiya, may problema tayong pangkalusugan, marami pa tayong dapat gawin for this year," he said.

"Para sa akin, hindi napapanahon ito. Hindi dahil sa issue, but because of the divisiveness it will cause among our people," he added.

The proposed amendments to the "restrictive" economic provisions in the Constitution are included in Resolution of Both Houses No. 2, authored by Velasco himself.

The measure inserts the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law" to the constitutional provisions on national patrimony and economy; education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports; and on general provisions to allow Congress to enact laws that would free up the economy to foreign investors.

This slight change in the Constitution's language "will improve the investment climate and generate much needed investments and jobs to counteract the economic contraction caused by the pandemic," said House constitutional amendments panel chair Alfredo Garbin.

But Defensor said the government is already implementing several measures to help the public recover from the impact of the pandemic on the economy.

"Pinag-uusapan natin yung pagsuporta sa ating mga manggagawa, mga assistance na binibigay natin, ayuda, which many countries are doing. Nagbibigay tayo ng mga programang pang-ekonomiya, livelihood programs para mabuhay ulit ang kanilang mga negosyo," he said.

"Ito yung mga nandito na, pwede nating gawin. Itong sinasabi nating reporma sa Konstitusyon, sa palagay ko magkakaroon ng debate diyan, kaguluhan pa diyan, hindi lang kami sa Kongreso kundi ang taumbayan," he added.

Defensor clarified, however, that his stance on proposed Charter changes is not influenced by his alliance with former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who Velasco replaced.

"Nauna itong nagsabi sa Senado e, at kaagad-agad nagsalita na ako na huwag naman muna ngayon because of the pandemic, because of our situation, and I stand by that," he said.

The House panel deliberations on amendments to economic provisions in the Constitution are set to begin on Wednesday. — DVM, GMA News