Pimentel says Cha-cha better discussed after 2025 polls

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said on Friday that it would be better to deliberate measures that seek to amend the 1987 Constitution after the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE). 

In a virtual interview with reporters, Pimentel reiterated his opposition to Charter change (Cha-cha) at the moment amid the controversy that surrounded the people's initiative (PI) which was believed to be backed by the members of the House of Representatives. 

"Ang feeling ko. [it is] better not to open this door or this box, because it might lead to unintended or unforeseen consequences... Under this context or given the situation, magdududa ka na sa lahat ng efforts to amend the Constitution at this moment because we are dealing with the same people, parehas lang ang tao na involved," Pimentel said. 

(Under this context or given the situation, you will have doubts about any effort to amend the Constitution because we are dealing with the same people.)

"Although I am open to constitutional amendments, 'wag na muna ngayon with the same set of legislators. After the 2025 elections 'yun na. Entertainin na yan. Bago ng set of legislators," he added. 

(Let's not do this now with the same set of legislators. Let's entertain it after the 2025 elections with a new set of legislators.)

Should the members of the House of Representatives who openly supported the PI get reelected, Pimentel then said the mandate of the people must be respected. 

"If the members of the House of Representatives get reelected and especially when we use this as a political issue, 'yung pag back-up nila sa people's initiative, if that's become a political issue during the campaign, and then they still get reelected, then okay na 'yon. Let us respect the new mandate of the people," he said. 

Pimentel also sees the latest Pulse Asia survey which showed 88% of Filipinos against amending the Constitution as an affirmation of his "gut feeling." 

"Parang na-confirm 'yung aking gut feeling na 'yan nga ang sentimyento ng taumbayan na, wag ngayon lalo na nung ginamit ang people's initiative...May under current, may mga malalakas na tao... na gustong gamitin ang pangalan ng taumbayan para makamit ang kanilang agenda," said Pimentel. 

(It confirms my gut feeling about the sentiment of the people not to move forward amid the controversy on the people's initiative. There are people around it who are pushing their own agenda.)

"Kaya iwas muna tayo ngayon, kung ganyan ang current sitwasyon... wag natin buksan itong taon na ito," he added. 

(Let's avoid it for now and leave it alone for the moment.)

On Thursday, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who is also in favor of Cha-cha like Pimentel, also attributed the survey results to the controversial people's initiative, which caused animosity between the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Senate is still discussing Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 (RBH 6) which focuses on amending certain economic provisions of the Constitution.

Senate leaders believe there is no need to rush the passage of the measure.

RBH 6 was filed after the Senate and the House leadership made an agreement before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. where the Upper House will lead the deliberations on the amendments to the 1987 Constitution as long as the people's initiative, which is believed to be supported by congressmen, including House Speaker Martin Romualdez, will be halted.

Efforts to amend the Constitution via people’s initiative has become controversial after several lawmakers disclosed that some of the signatories were allegedly bribed or promised government aid.

The Senate unanimously released a manifesto against the present people’s initiative efforts, saying the House is out to abolish the Senate given that the document for signature asks voters if they are in favor of amending the charter to allow members of Congress to jointly vote on Constitutional amendments, a setup which would consider the vote of 24 senators and more than 300 House members. —VAL, GMA Integrated News