‘Senate will eventually support Cha-cha’

A leading Cha-cha (Charter change) proponent in the House of Representatives expressed confidence yesterday that the Senate would eventually agree to the initiative to amend the Constitution via a constituent assembly.

"I think they will eventually support Cha-cha through a constituent assembly. They will not be insensitive to popular clamor to amend the Charter," said Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Constantino Jaraula, chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments.

He said when the presidential consultative commission (con-com) on Cha-cha and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) submit their reports on the nationwide consultations that they are conducting, "senators will probably change their mind on Cha-cha."

He said con-com and ULAP are expected to finish their consultations and come up with reports before the end of the year or in January.

"At about that time, we in the House should be ready to vote on the resolution urging Congress to convene as a constituent assembly to propose Charter changes," he added.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said yesterday the government is eyeing to use people’s initiative as the mode of amending the 1987 Constitution.

At a press conference, Gonzalez said he is now reviewing two resolutions issued by the Supreme Court during the term of former president Fidel Ramos on the petitions for people’s initiative launched by his People’s Initiative for Reform, Modernization and Action, which he tried to use to extend his term of office.

Jaraula pointed out that the House vote and the reports of con-com and ULAP "would be an overwhelming endorsement of Cha-cha that the Senate cannot ignore." The ULAP groups governors, city and town mayors, and other local elective officials. Three weeks ago, leaders of the House, con-com and ULAP signed a declaration to support Cha-cha and the proposal to change the form of government, from the presidential to the parliamentary system.

They also agreed to respect the six-year term of office of President Arroyo and to lift the term limits for elective officials under the envisioned new Constitution. Scrapping the term limits would mean that governors, mayors and congressmen who are now on their third and last term would be qualified for an unlimited number of terms if the nation shifts to the parliamentary system. — With Mike Frialde