Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Saturday that he’s mulling over inhibiting himself from legislative discussions on Charter change (Cha-cha) should it pushes through.
In a radio interview, he said the move is to avoid allegations he would want to benefit from proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution, particularly tweaking the term limits for politicians.
“Sa akin, pagka ginawa nila 'yon at tinuloy natin 'yon, pag-iisipan ko na mag-inhibit (Personally, if they will pursue it and we push through with it, I am considering inhibiting myself). Baka hindi ako makialam (I might not participate),” Sotto told DWIZ.
“Matatapos na ako ng 2022. ‘Pag nagkaroon ng Cha-cha ganyan, baka bigla kaming ma-extend, ayaw ko namang ako ay kasama doon sa sabing i-extend kami (My term will end in 2022. If there will be a Cha-cha, and our terms will be extended, I don't want to be part of the move to extend term limits),” he explained.
Sotto is currently on his fourth term as a senator, having served two consecutive terms in the Senate from 1992 to 2004; and two more consecutive terms from 2010 to 2022.
Under the Constitution, no senator shall serve for more than two consecutive terms.
“Naka apat na anim na taon na ako (I have had four, six-year terms). Ako na 'yong pinakamahaba, pinakamatanda at pinakamatagal (I have served the longest in Senate),” he said.
“Unless pilitin ako na mag-preside lang (my colleagues insist that I preside at least) or something like that, pero hindi ako magpa-participate (but I will not participate). Mag-iinhibit ako sapagkat mamaya 'yong pag-uusapan magiging beneficiary ako, pangit (I will inhibit because the discussions might benefit me, it's not proper),” he added.
Leaders of the House of Representatives have decided to defer discussions on the proposed constitutional amendments to early next year to prioritize measures addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, in a television interview, however, maintained the need to revise the Charter. He has been pushing for the removal of the term limits for elective officials.
Sotto said the deferment was a :good plan,” although he maintained that Cha-cha proposals might face rough-sailing with only two years left before the end of the President Duterte's term.
Senators have been cold to propositions for Cha-cha, which they described as a “very contentious” and “very divisive” issue.