Romualdez: Cha-cha is for the people, not politicians

In the wake of the Senate's move to release a manifesto condemning the ongoing people's initiative, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday said efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution are for the people and not for politicians.

"Itong Cha-cha, ito ay para sa Pilipino. Hindi para sa kongresista, hindi para sa Presidente, hindi para sa Senado," Romualdez said.

(Cha-cha is for the Filipinos. It is not for House members, not for the President, and not for the Senate.)

The 24-member Senate on Tuesday unanimously issued a manifesto expressing concern over the "sinister and underhanded attempt to change the Constitution by exploiting our democratic process under the guise of a people's initiative."

The upper chamber warned that voting jointly in a constituent assembly, as proposed by the people's initiative, would prevent senators from "cast[ing] any meaningful vote against the 316 members of the House of Representatives."

While saying he would rather not engage in a word war, Romualdez said the House of Representatives was willing to work with the Senate in amending the economic provisions of the Constitution since both chambers of Congress already have resolutions on the matter.

"Hindi ko pinapatulan ang mga ganung salita... foul words, invectives. That is their right [to express opposition to the people's initiative], and I respect their right," Romualdez said.

(I won't respond to such foul words, invectives. That is their right [to express opposition to the people's initiative], and I respect their right.)

"But when I see something good and positive, I am willing to work with them. The House will embrace it," Romualdez added.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed openness to amend economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, saying the Charter was "not written for a globalized world."

Discussions on political amendments, the President said, could come after the economic provisions because he does "not want to confuse the issue any longer."

Echoing the President's sentiments, the Speaker said that although the priority of the House is amending the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, the political amendments can be considered later.

"The Resolution of Both Houses on proposed economic provisions of the Constitution is the priority of the House. Baka sa susunod, baka puedeng pag-usapan... pag-aralan iyong mga political. Pero ako, unahin iyong mga economic provisions, unahin natin,” he pointed out.

(The Resolution of Both Houses on proposed economic provisions of the Constitution is the priority of the House. Maybe we can discuss political amendments next time... study these later. But for me, we should first prioritize amending the economic provisions.)

Romualdez maintained that Charter change was critical to open up the Philippine economy and allow the creation of more jobs.

"Baka ito na ang sagot sa hiling ng mga kababayan natin nagpapapirma [for people's initiative]. Baka sila mismo ang matutuwa," he added.

(Perhaps this will satisfy our countrymen who signed the people's initiative. Maybe this will make them happy.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News