Isko eyes Cha-cha to elect regional senators should he win in May polls

Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno is eyeing to amend the 1987 Constitution and increase the Senate seat to 34 to promote diversity should he win the presidential race.

"I will make Senate membership 34, wherein those senators will be elected regionally. Dahil ang gusto ko, makakita ako ng senador na Igorot, na IP, kasi binoto siya doon sa rehiyon niya," Moreno said in an ambush interview in General Santos City.

(I will make the Senate membership to 34, wherein those senators will be elected regionally. Because I want to see senators who are Igorot, who are IP, because they were voted by their regions.)

"Gusto ko makakita ako ng senador na Moro, na Lumad, o iba pang mga kababayan natin sa kani-kanilang lugar. Wherein magkakaroon na sila ng constituency, specific, geographical constituency," he added.

(I want to see senators who are Moro, Lumad, or our other countrymen who are in their respective areas. Wherein they will have constituency, specific, geographical constituency.)

According to the Manila mayor, senatorial runs have become very costly and have seemingly become a "franchise."

He said the amendment will give more power to regions.

"Now what is the effect of this? The good effect of this is kapag budget preparations, budget deliberation na, hindi na may maiiwang rehiyon. Bakit? May tagapagtanggol nang senador," he added.

(Now what is the effect of this? The good effect of this is during budget preparations, budget deliberation, no region will be left behind. Why? Because there are senators to defend them.)

VP to win with president

Further, Moreno said the vice presidential bet must also win if the presidential candidate is elected.

"Yes, dapat kapag tumatakbo ang presidente, automatic, panalo na ang vice president. Para maiwasan natin ang away. We've experienced it. Na-experience natin 'yan. It's a fact already," he said.

(Yes, whoever is running for president, automatically, the vice president should also win. So we can avoid fights. We've experienced it. That's a fact already.)

He said this will prevent the struggle for power.

"So 'pag natigil yun, mapapanatag natin 'yung tao na pagdating ng araw, pag nanalo 'yung president, mananalo na rin 'yung vice president," he said.

(So if we stop that, then the people will be assured that someday if the president wins, the vice president will also win.)

Moreno, however, said he is willing to "be sensible" to lawmakers.

"We will try to meet them halfway... hindi natin pwede isubo ang mainit na kanin sa bibig ninoman. Iluluwa 'yun. So I'll try my best to be sensible to the legislative body," he said.

(We will try to meet them halfway... we can't force them. They will throw that up. So I will try my best to be sensible to the legislative body.)

"And if not, there are other provisions in the Constitution to submit it directly to the people. There are some rules that are available, legally and technically," he added.—AOL, GMA News