Cha-cha not yet timely — Cendaña

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña on Sunday said it is not yet the right time to amend the Constitution, warning that discussions on Charter Change could veer into unrelated matters.

“Sa Akbayan, tingin natin, hindi ito ang panahon para sa Charter Change. Una, wala nang panahon. Pangalawa, kapag binuksan ang usapin ng pagbabago ng Konstitusyon, kung saan-saan pwedeng pumunta na 'yan,” Cendaña told Super Radyo dzBB.

(In Akbayan, we think it is not the right time for Charter Change. First, there is no time. Second, once the discussion is opened, it could go in many directions.)

He added, “Ang greatest fear natin, magamit ang pag-amyenda sa Konstitusyon para sa mga anti-people na amendment sa ating Konstitusyon.”

(Our greatest fear is that any attempt to amend the Constitution might be used for anti-people changes.)

Cendaña’s statement came as some lawmakers expressed support for revising existing rules—and possibly amending the Constitution—to prevent what they described as judicial overreach following the Supreme Court’s ruling that declared unconstitutional the articles of impeachment filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he would support Charter Change if the opportunity arises.

Cendaña explained that opening discussions on Charter Change could give some individuals the chance to pursue changes that serve their own interests.

“Kapag nagsimula ang proseso ng Charter Change, hindi naman pwedeng sabihin na isang probisyon lang ang gagalawin. Kapag ganyan, talagang magbubukas ka ng malaking gateway para mabigyan ng pagkakataon 'yung iba na may ibang interes sa pagbabago ng Konstitusyon,” he said.

(Once the Charter Change process begins, you cannot limit it to a single provision. Doing so could open a gateway for others to push for changes that serve their own interests.)

Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito said any move for Charter Change should be carefully studied before being reopened.

“Kelangan natin pag-aral. Mahirap pag binuksan mo yung Charter Change, maaring dangerous. Maraming makalikot na ibang bagay pa,” Ejercito said in a separate dzBB interview.

(We need to study it. Opening Charter Change could be risky, since many unrelated issues could come up.)

He added, “Open po ako diyan especially the economic provisions para yung mga restrictive provision ng ating konstitusyon, kelangan ma update na rin to.”

(I’m open to it, especially the economic provisions. Some restrictive parts of the Constitution need to be updated.)

Promulgated on January 28, the Supreme Court upheld its July 2025 decision that declared the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional on two grounds: violation of the one-year bar rule and infringement of her right to due process.—MCG, GMA Integrated News