House bloc mulls 'tactical alliances' to derail political Cha-cha

Some members of the House of Representatives are open to forging “tactical alliances” with other lawmakers in hopes of blocking the initiative to amend the Constitution which could get underway in their chamber next Tuesday in plenary session.

 

“[We] may have to go into tactical alliances with individual congressmen or members of the House of Representatives who are opposed to Cha-cha. For example, we can talk to the NPC (Nationalist People’s Coalition) or the Nacionalista Party, or even the independents (independent minority members) in the House of Representatives,” 1-BAP Party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III said in a news conference on Wednesday.

 

Bello declined to divulge the names of the House members his group plans to approach to join a possible anti-Cha-cha alliance. He said they have to remain anonymous for now “for their own protection.”

 

At present, only one Cha-cha initiative is pending at the House. Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.1 seeks to amend certain economic provisions of the Constitution to open up the Philippine economy to more foreign investments.

 

While the resolution’s primary author, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., is firm in his stand not to tinker with the political provisions in the Charter, Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales II said “nobody can stop anybody on proposing an individual amendment”—even those of a political nature—to the resolution once the period of amendments starts.

 

Openly opposed to political Cha-cha

 

When asked about the possibility of coalescing with the minority against Cha-Cha, NPC stalwart Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said his party has yet to come up with its position on political Charter Change. 

 

“We will meet soon regarding this issue,” he said in a text message.

 

Gatchalian, who previously backed the economic Cha-Cha initiative, decided to withdraw his support for the measure after some members of the ruling Liberal Party said they are considering pursuing political Cha-Cha to lift the President’s six-year term limit.

 

For his part, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said the minority is united in its stand not to allow any form of political Cha-cha to progress in the House.

 

And although the minority bloc’s membership pales in comparison to the numbers of the majority coalition, the group will still “openly oppose” any initiative to amend the political provisions in the Constitution, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares said.

 

[Kung] may effort na ipasok ‘yung term extension doon sa plenary, we will oppose it openly. We will call on the people to oppose it actively. Doon mismo sa loob ng Kongreso, haharangin din namin. And kahit maliit lang kami, we will make sure na hindi ito basta bastang maipasok at maipasa lalo na’t may nakaambang discussions [tungkol sa] Cha-Cha resolution sa floor,” he said.

 

Colmenares said he and other members of the progressive Makabayan bloc in the House are against any form of Charter Change, saying amending the Constitution is not the solution to the country’s problems.

 

The Makabayan bloc consists of Colmenares, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Gabriela party-list Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Luz Ilagan, ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, and Anakapawis party-list Rep. Fernando Hicap.  — ELR, GMA News