Palace: Congress may still call for referendum on Cha-cha

Malacañang is still not ruling out the possibility of holding a national referendum coinciding with the May elections to determine whether Filipinos want the 1987 Constitution amended after the polls.

Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio said Congress, by a vote of two-thirds, can decide to call for a referendum as provided for under the Constitution.

When asked whether there is possibility of posing the question regarding Cha-cha in the May elections, Claudio said it was a possibility, "but the action has to be taken by Congress itself. Only Congress can call for a referendum to include a question in the ballot regarding Cha-cha."

Claudio said a referendum may be conducted, since specific amendments on the Constitution can no longer be tackled before the May elections.

He said the prospects of a new people’s initiative, constituent assembly or constitutional convention had dimmed due to the coming elections and the opposition of various sectors to the timing of proposals to amend the Constitution. — Aurea Calica