Proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution is definitely a ‘’no, no’’ during the first year of the 19th Congress that begins July 25.
Incoming Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri stressed this following a proposal at the House of Representatives to change the term limits of elected officials through Charter change.
Zubiri, a Majority Leader in the 18th Congress, emphasized that talks or discussions should revolve around proposals to revive the ailing economy.
"I think on the first year that should be on the mind, the minds and souls of every legislator at this point in time. Yun na muna yung pag-usapan natin kasi galing tayong pandemya, madaming nahihirapan na mga kababayan natin (That should be the issues to be discussed since we have come out of the Covid-19 pandemic, many of our countrymen were negatively affected)," he said.
"Hindi pa tapos ang COVID-19, so we have to support the President in his of course health program sa darating na mga buwan (Covid-19 is not over yet, so we have to support the President in his health program in the coming months). Yun na muna ang pag-usapan natin (That should be what we should talk about). I would say right now that’s not our priority," he added.
Zubiri said a House proposal to shorten term limits should be frozen for the time being because the Marcos administration is new.
"I think it’s too controversial. Let’s wait first for the composition of our committees," he added.
Senator Robin Padilla, proposed to be the chairman of the Senate constitutional amendments committee in the committee 19th Congress, had told Zubiri that he is ready to study the proposal because amending the Constitution is his advocacy.
"So sabi ko sa kanya, sige, mag-set ka na ng mga committee hearings (So I told him to schedule committee hearings). Of course we will attend and we will exchange ideas with you," Zubiri said of his conversation with Padilla.
"But that’s as far as we’re talking about any talk about Charter change. Let’s open it in the committee. It’s too soon to make any commitments at this point in time," he added.
Zubiri said people are "allergic" to political issues, particularly on constitutional amendments.