Miriam, Drilon cool to latest Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines - Two of the most senior members of the Senate expressed reservations on efforts to amend the Constitution emanating from the House of Representatives.

While not rejecting the idea of Charter change (Cha-cha) outright, Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Franklin Drilon were apprehensive of the proposal for different reasons.

Santiago said that the proposal of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution does not guarantee that it would bring about an influx of foreign direct investments (FDI) and consequently provide a boost to the economy.

Santiago noted that allowing foreign entities to own, develop and exploit the country’s natural resources and other restricted sectors such as public utilities and mass media through an amendment of the Constitution should not be viewed as a trusted way to stimulate the economy.

“There is no direct relationship in any other country that if there was an economic boom, it was because of FDI,” Santiago added.

She also pointed out that if ever the expected investments do not materialize, the country would have to live with its decision to give up the restricted sectors to foreign investors.

“Because we saw that it did not serve to boost our economy, we can no longer take them back, we can no longer take our natural resources back. That is my main inhibition there,” she explained.

As to the proposals to amend the political provisions of the Constitution, Santiago said that the position of President Aquino against this should be respected as the country’s de facto spokesperson.

“The Constitution is meant to serve the people for all time, that’s why the process of changing the Constitution is made purposely difficult because it is meant to stand the test of time,” she said.

“So if you change it each time there’s a change of attitude among a few leaders of public opinion, it will no longer be a Constitution, it will derogate itself into the level of an ordinary law,” she added.

Drilon, on the other hand, said he has not had the opportunity to discuss the issue of Cha-cha with his colleagues in the Senate. But based on the sentiments of his colleagues that have been reported, “there appears to be no consensus among the senators on that point.”