Pat Cuilan, Benguet: Recognized legal minds say that Cha-cha will pass many hurdles, but not the anti-Cha-cha demontrations. It is likely to fail.
Rey Onate, Palayan City: Yes, it will succeed. The opposition cannot provide the public good reasons and alternatives; they only give intrigues, fearful speculations, and noise.
It’s up to the Senate
Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: It will succeed if the Senate agrees to participate and the no ter extension policy is followed. But will the Senate consent to its abolition?
Romeo Caubat, Masbate: Amending the Charter will fail because the senators won’t cooperate, more so that ours is a bicameral assembly. It’s as simple as that.
Lucas Banzon Madamba II, Laguna: The Philippines has a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, wherein both chambers of Congress have to protect the Constitution of the country. Moreover, it will require at least 3/4 votes of the significant majority of the Senate and the House of Representatives before they can come up with the plan of amending the Charter. Therefore, as I see it, moves by pro-administration solons to amend the Charter will fail since the senators are staging their protests against the Constituent assembly, which, as they can see, can extend the terms of incumbent government officials.
Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: It’s doubtful, but it’s worth a try. As long as they invite some senators to Con-ass, they can amend the Charter and let people decide through a plebiscite.
They have the numbers
Jose Jumawan, Palawan: Judging by the numbers, pro-administration solons will steamroll the opposition, believe you me.
Louella Brown, Baguio City: Moves by pro-administration solons to amend the Charter will succeed because they have the numbers. The ayes are louder than the nays.
C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Yes, if they use their numbers, but not if the Supreme Court decides that Resolution 1109 is unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court holds the key
Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: Ultimately, the Supreme Court will rule on the matter and the ruling will spell the fate of this exercise.
Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: It depends on the Supreme Court arbitration. Once the proposed amendments are allowed to be voted upon in a plebiscite, expect resounding success.
Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: The Supreme Court holds the key to whether Charter change will push through or not. Even if the House of Representatives proceeds with its plans, the high court can strike their initiative midway thorugh their deliberations. On the other hand, should the justices side with the Lower House, it will be full speed ahead for the Cha-cha proponents, with the Senate being side-lined in the process.
Dave Velasco, Marinduque: I trust that Cha-cha will succeed because there are legitimate issues to tackle and the Supreme Court will arbitrate and decide on it.
People reject Cha-cha
Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: I think it will fail because even if they use all their means to amend the Charter, those who oppose it are still bigger and stronger, especially if they join forces.
Digoy Coro, Batangas: It will fail because you, I and the majority of Filipinos are against it. If they push it harder, all hell will break loose.
Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: These Con-ass flies will fail miserably. The majority of Filipinos will tag them as the new traitors of our time. Their prize awaits them in 2010.
Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Cha-cha is doomed to fail because the resistance is going to be very strong, and any Cha-cha before 2010 would be vulnerable to manipulation by the administration to suit its own ends.
Edwin Monares, Rizal: We are in a democracy a government of the people, by the people and for the people. This shameless attempt of Congress will succeed at least in buying time to deviate the attention of media in exposing some issues detrimental to the administration. However, they will not be able to succeed in amending the Constitution for it is evident that the Filipino people do not like it. Any attempt to ram this through a sea of protests will just cost this administration and its allies dearly.
Vir Lauzon, General Santos City: It will not succeed. People definitely oppose it, the presidentiables eyeing 2010 included.
Noel Banias, Makati City: Moves to amend the Charter will not prosper because the President will finally realize that the majority of Filipinos do not want Charter change, not in any form, today or later. Her lackeys will feel the heat coming from the constituents and will fear possible widespread reprisal by the people. Also, the grim possibility that restive military factions will rise again is cause enough for them to retreat and shelve the Con-ass bill.
They must listen to the people
Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City: There is evidence of division; hence, it should fail. The congressmen should have consulted their constituents first instead of pulling a fast one on the populace.
Luis Bardillon, Parañaque City: Since this is only a numbers game, it will eventually succeed and their selfish interests will go on as planned. The only way it would fail is if lawmakers still value their reputation, self-respect and love for their families, who also will suffer from their poor judgment. They must listen to the people to abort Charter change.
Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: My gut feeling is that this move will not push through in the end. The moves by these solons may succeed if they want to force it, but I am sure many of them at this point are listening to the voice of the majority of the people in their respective areas of responsibility and they are not deaf to these. And the President, too, is not deaf to the true voice of the people who have nothing to do with politics and so, I am sure she will intervene to put these moves on hold. But, let’s pray for that.
A lost cause
Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: Con-Ass is a lost cause, just like Imelda bitching, “I have no funds, pati nga pension ni Marcos, na-withdraw ko na. Bakit kami ginaganito, ha?” Congress, PGMA, Nograles, Meldy and Erap are like people suffering from dementia: They’ve lost the ability to detect sarcasm. They still delude themselves that they are acting for the sake of the Filipino people when in fact sawang-sawa na tayo sa kanila.
Siti Cadub, Ilocos Norte: It will fail. It won’t muster the needed “yes” vote in a fair and honest referendum that is, if the congressmen could even start constituting themselves into a Con-ass.
Felix Ramento, Manila: They, too, will fail as did FVR and Erap when they tried to change the Constitution during their watch.
Lolong Rejano, Marinduque: As of this writing, I heard that Mrs. Arroyo has asked her allies in Congress to put House Resolution 1109 on hold. So there is already a manifestation that amending the Constitution is dead. The rumbling protests elsewhere and e-protests on websites might have caused Malacañang to make the decision on the controversial issue of Charter change. Anyway, it’s a big score for the Filipino people.
Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: From all indications, it will fail. This early, many congressmen who supported its passage are expressing their withdrawal; they could have been tricked into voting for it, or their second thought proved better. Even people who are not participating in the noisy rallies are expressing their opposition in many ways. Those who are moving for it must at least avoid another people’s revolution that may not be as bloodless as before.
Rex Earlou Calmerin, Iligan City: It’s a failure because the opposition will stop at nothing to prevent any changes in our Constitution despite proposals made by the administration.
L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: Pro-administration solons are not doing Cha-cha a favor by ramming it down our throats. I believe it’s going to suffer a painful death.
Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: The pro-administration solons’ move to amend the Charter will surely fail because Filipinos are intellectually prepared to discern right from wrong.
Cha-cha proponents must be steadfast
Juan Deveraturda, Subic, Zambales: Proponents of Charter change should continue efforts to ensure that the process of amending the Constitution is done before the elections are held next year. The congressmen should not be afraid as the noisy opposition could only muster about 15,000 rallyists last week. The voice of the silent majority should be heard in a plebiscite where Constitutional amendments would be submitted for ratification by the people.
With their hidden agenda, it will fail
Erwin Espinosa, Pangasinan: It will fail if there is a hidden agenda that the majority of Pinoys do not favor.
Delfin Todcor, Quezon City: It will fail if their intent is for self-serving purposes and because of suspicion that Cha-cha at this point is for PGMA’s term extension.
Leonard Villa, Batac City: A plan that emanates from treacherous design will never be blessed by God. Cha-cha maneuvers by administration congressmen are doomed to fail.
Elpidio Que, Vigan City: It’s doomed to fail. We have the all-seeing eye up there who works in mysterious ways. In the end, good will prevail.
Sahlee Reyes, Las Piñas City: I believe it will fail. This sneaky move by pro-administration solons has an evil agenda, but our Creator loves our country so much, He won’t turn a deaf ear to our country’s cry for help. Let’s keep praying and leave everything to God.
They are partially successful now
Josh Pacatang, Dipolog City: The Con-ass congressmen are partially succeeding by sending HB 1109 to the Senate for their participation. Whether senators join or not, the House of Representatives will succeed again if the matter is taken up by the Supreme Court, favored or not.
Their move is unconstitutional
Cris Rivera, Rizal: The means and the end of PGMA solons’ unicameral act to amend the Charter, obviously to prolong their official term, will fail. It’s unconstitutional.
Wenceslao Calma, Metro Manila: The moves of administration allies to amend the Constitution without the participation of the Senate will surely fail because it is illegal.
Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: Cha-cha through Con-ass will fail because any move to tinker the Charter without the Senate’s participation is brazenly undemocratic.
Protesters may swell in the streets
Diony Yap, Bacolod City: No, a disastrous failure is evident if pro-administration solons are hell-bent on amending the Charter against the will of the people.
Ric Vergara, Calamba City: The move may succeed because of pork, but protesters may swell in the streets. Delikado ‘pag nagkagulo dahil may dahilan na si Arroyo!
We must cause it to fail!
Fortunato Aguirre, Bulacan: It will fail. People abhor the rotten and immoral idea of Con-Ass being cooked and pushed by GMA’s stooges. The masses should fight it to the end, without let-up, to the very end.
Rose Leobrera, Manila: Their will be done, kasi Con-ass is favorable to them, too. The whole Philippines will have to revolt against these duhapang na mga kongresista ito, sugurin, lipulin, puksain. I wonder, why can’t we do anything? Ang dami natin.
This should unite the opposition
Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: As in chess, these are moves being taken without much thought. For so long, the opposition didn’t have a common thread to unite. I thought it would never come.
Abolish Congress
Edsel Angeles, Metro Manila: We should demand the abolition of Congress. They no longer serve as politicians; they only engage in partisan politics.
It is ill-timed
Ruel Bautista, Laguna: We are in the midst of political turmoil and Cha-cha has no place at this time. After 2010 is the best time to reintroduce it.
Jim Veneracion, Naga City: It’s bound to fail because it’s ill-timed and the obvious motive is term extension for GMA. Its proponents are displaying the gall of desperate people.
Ludwig P. Aguinaldo, Digos City: The move to change the Charter at this point is ill-timed and clearly speculative, as GMA ends her term of office in 2010. It is an exercise in futility. Moral revolution, not Charter change, is the panacea to our ills. Our leaders in government should toe the line for good governance and chart the future of our country.
Delay Cha-cha
Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: I think Cha-cha may be deferred until after the May 2010 elections if only to ensure that GMA and her family, cohorts and lackeys won’t benefit.
Norberto Robles, Taguig: Wait for the next Congress to revive Cha-cha. The general perception about it has been so twisted by disinformation that it is useless to go on. Media pied pipers have won the day.
They voted according to self-interest
Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: With the nincompoop leaders we have today, amending the Constitution is a high priority. The power of congressmen to make laws must be limited within the interest of his/her district. They must not make laws for the entire nation to follow. The Constitution must be changed through Constitutional convention, not through Con-ass, which will definitely not succeed because it is for their self-interest. Congressmen who signed and voted for Con-ass do not know or understand what it is all about. They signed and voted because of money and the promise of being an administration candidate in 2010.
Let’s leave everything to God
Fel Avlis, Aklan: Siguradong-sigurado it will succeed. Ika nga’ywhat are we in power for? Only Divine Intervention can ward off this satanic move.
Richard Cornelio, Pasay City: Even if we try to rally at the Batasan, it will not keep solons from amending the Constitution. It’s just a waste of saliva shouting through megaphones and compelling congressmen to abort their plan concerning the Charter change initiative. Let’s just pray that congressmen will be enlightened.
Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: I’m not at all seeing any success or failure; but I hope the winds of politics blows the right way.
Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.
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