Romualdez: Zubiri says he ‘will keep open mind’ on Cha-cha

Leyte Representative and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez over the weekend said Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri told him he will keep an open mind on the proposal to make economic reforms through constitutional amendments.

According to Romualdez, he spoke briefly with Zubiri on the phone on Sunday.

“I trust that other senators will continue to join SP Migz in keeping their mind open on amending restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution,” he was quoted as saying in a tweet by GMA’s Tina Panganiban-Perez.

This comes as the House of Representatives last week approved on third and final reading House Bill 7352, which weeks to amend the 1987 Constitution through a constitutional convention (con-con).

The Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes wrapped up its public hearings on Thursday, with its chair Senator Robin Padilla saying he would continue to push for the economic charter change.

In another statement on Monday, Speaker Romualdez said Zubiri informed him that the Senate is awaiting the committee's report for appropriate plenary action.

Zubiri earlier said he was confused as to why legislators from the lower chamber were rushing the Senate to act on such proposals, reiterating that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had already said it is not a priority of the administration.

In response, Romualdez said the “rush” in measures seeking to amend the Constitution would be for the “public interest.” — with Llanesca T. Panti/BM, GMA Integrated News