Cha-cha train to be derailed even before it leaves the station — Drilon

The administration’s “real plan” behind federalism will eventually “derail” the House of Representatives’ efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Friday.

“The House Cha-cha (Charter change) train will get derailed even before it leaves the station,” Drilon said in a text message.

“The Filipino people will see the real plan in federalism: suspend elections, extend the terms of  members of Congress, and do away with the check and balance system by abolishing the Senate,” Drilon said.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said they will push through in convening as a constituent assembly (con-ass) even without the participation of senators, as he insisted that Cha-cha should be done through joint voting.

Senators have agreed to boycott the House con-ass, maintaining their position that voting should be done separately, as Congress is bicameral in nature.

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the deadlock may eventually be questioned before the Supreme Court.

“This is a free country, anybody can file that case,” Pimentel said in a News To Go interview. 

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said the House should not test the patience of the public. 

“Huwag nilang subukan ang pasensya ng taumbayan. Federalism ba talaga ang pakay ng Cha-cha o no election at term extension ng mga nakaupo?” Pangilinan said.

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said the Senate will not succumb to the pressure from the lower chamber.

“The Senate believes that this is a critical reform that must go through the right process. Dadaan kami sa naaayon na proseso at panahon na bumabagay sa kahalagahan [ng] pagbabago sa Saligang Batas,” Aquino said in a statement.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, for his part, said the reasons for advocating federalism through Cha-cha are all lies.

“Huwag na tayo magpaligoy-ligoy pa, ang Cha-cha ni Duterte ay tinutulak para lang manatili siya sa pwesto. Kasi alam niya na sa kulungan ang tuloy niya pagbaba niya sa pwesto sa 2022,” Trillanes said.

“Ang iba't-ibang rason para sa Cha-cha na sinasabi niya gaya ng federalism ay pawang panlilinlang, pananakot o panloloko lamang sa taong bayan,” he added.

Pimentel said federalism has yet to get the support of majority of his colleagues.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the ruling party PDP-Laban has yet to make a connection between federalism and developing the countryside.

Senator Nancy Binay, for her part, said lawmakers should first look at how to properly implement the Local Government Code before considering Cha-cha and shifting to a federal form of government.

Binay said issues like decentralization and strengthening local autonomy are better addressed by strictly implementing the existing law.

“Siguro baka kailangan magdownload pati yung funding ibigay na natin sa LGU. And then tingnan natin by empowering them by funding them kung makakapagdeliver sila. Siguro kung magkaroon ng failure, saka natin tignan baka it’s high time to make changes,” she said. — RSJ, GMA News