Drilon: Senate open to discuss Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Franklin Drilon said the chamber is open to discussions on the proposed Charter change while Malacañang reiterated President Aquino's opposition to the move.

"There has been no discussion of that for the past months. There were discussions during the first part of the year. We are open to it," Drilon said Thursday.

Drilon said the Senate will take its position at the appropriate time as they will see how the debates will develop.

He added that there must be consensus among the political leaders "because this kind of political exercise must have the support of the unified political leadership."

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Wednesday that the House of Representatives seeks to pass legislation relaxing the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution within the first quarter of 2014.

To recall, Belmonte filed Concurrent Resolution No. 1 at the opening of the 16th Congress last June to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution to attract more foreign investor participation in local industries.

Drilon said he has yet to discuss the matter with Belmonte, but he noted that the process of amending the Charter that the House members are suggesting is the same that he initiated a couple of years ago.

He said when amendments to the Constitution are proposed, it must be in the same manner that laws are passed.

"Yes, follow the procedure in enacting laws, but it must be passed by a three fourths majority of each house voting separately and the amendments must be submitted for ratification before it becomes effective," Drilon said.

Meanwhile, Malacañang reiterated the President's stand against amending the Constitution's economic provisions even if it is being pushed by Aquino's allies in Congress.

Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said they respect the position of the lawmakers but he added that the President still has no plans to revise the Charter.

“He has consistently maintained that economic restrictions in the Constitution are not detrimental in attracting foreign investments,” Coloma said in a press briefing.