Hontiveros won’t sign Padilla’s panel report on con-ass

Senator Robin Padilla won't secure Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros' signature on his committee report on a resolution seeking to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution via constituent assembly.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Hontiveros maintained that charter Change is not necessary at this point in time.

"Ako po hindi po ako pipirma dahil tulad ng Maharlika Investment Fund, tingin ko po ang Cha-cha ay hindi kailangan sa ngayon," she said.

(I will not sign because I believe that like the Maharlika Investment Fund, Cha-cha is not what is needed right now.)

For Hontiveros, the economic bills that are being discussed in the Senate are already "enough" to address the issues raised by Padilla.

She also stated that she prefers amending the 1987 Constitution through a constitutional convention (con-con).

"Bagamat sa tatlong modes ng para sa aking pinakamabuti ay con-con, pero hindi pa ngayon at hindi rin po ako sang-ayon na amyendahan yung seksyon ng Konstitusyon tungkol sa national economy and patrimony," she added.

(Of the three modes, I believe the best one would be the con-con, but not yet and I do not agree that the section of the Constitution on national economy and patrimony needs to be amended.)

On Monday, Hontiveros and Padilla said the senators had a "passionate" all-member caucus where they discussed the senators' stand on Cha-cha.

"Naging maganda ang usapan. Nagkaroon man ng mga palitan ng pagiging passionate, kanya-kanya, isipin nyo 24 republics of the Philippines 'yan. So isipin mo ang bitawan ng mga salita niyan," Padilla said in an ANC interview.

"Pero isa lang ang masisigurado ko sa inyo. Ang lahat po ng senador na nandoon kahapon ito galing sa puso ko ito, ang pinoproteksyunan diyan taumbayan. Nakita ko po interest ng taumbayan, na una 'wag magkalokohan. Kung magkakaroon man tayo ng amyenda, kailangang malinaw," he added.

Hontiveros confirmed the "passionate" discussion on Cha-cha and said that there was "solid" support of the Senate as part of the branches of the government.

"Solid po ang Senado sa pagpapahalaga sa papel ng institusyon bilang bahagi ng separate, co-equal branches na form of government natin at pinapahalagahan namin ang tradisyon at kasaysayan ng maya't mayang pagtindig talaga sa aming independence bilang institusyon at aming papel na ginagampanan sa isang demokrasya kahit hirap ang demokrasya natin," she said.

"Solid din po kami na 'yung anumang bill kahit tungkol sa ganitong paksa ay dadaan sa legislative process tulad ng iba pang mga proposed measures. Dadaan sa tamang proseso at sa huli ay magpapasya ang Senado bilang isa sa mga kapulungan sa ating lehislatura," she added.

Asked to confirm Padilla's statement that the majority of the senators are not that interested in Cha-cha, Hontiveros said: "One hundred percent accurate."

Last week, Padilla said he is eyeing to release separate committee reports on his resolution, which seeks to relax economic provisions in the constitution via con-ass and the House-approved resolution which seeks to amend the charter via con-con.

Congressmen and senators are set to hold an executive session to discuss the stand of each house on the passage of measures on Cha-cha. — BM, GMA Integrated News