Sotto says timing is biggest hurdle in Cha-cha

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said timing is the biggest hurdle in the efforts to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Sotto said both houses of Congress have limited time to discuss the proposed Charter change.

“To me timing is really difficult at this point. I’m not for or against it but the timing really is the most difficult thing to hurdle as far as Cha-cha is concern,” he said in a press conference.

“Limited ang time namin because of the elections. It will be easier to discuss it after 2019,” he added, noting the upcoming midterm polls next year.

He said it will be easier to tackle Cha-cha after the elections because they will have more time to talk about it and discuss it with their counterparts at the House.

“Sa amin, mapag-uusapan namin yan in a few months, pero to tackle it together with the House of Representatives, it’s not that easy,” he said.

He further said that the Senate will stand by its decision to wait first for the report of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes before they will talk with their counterpart at the House of Representatives

“Pag-aaralan po namin ang ilalabas na committee report. Idi-discuss po namin sa plenaryo yan, kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng majority ng Senado,” he said.

Presidential Communications Operations office head Martin Andanar said that Charter change is not yet dead but on a power nap.

“Ibig sabihin nagpa-power nap, eh nag-iipon lang ng lakas para pag gising niya ay tuluy-tuloy na ang ating kampanya dito sa pederalismo or Charter change,” he said in an interview with dzRH Thursday morning. — MDM, GMA News