Robin eyes timing Charter Change referendum with postponed barangay, SK polls
Senator Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla is eyeing holding a referendum on Charter change to coincide with barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election which was reset by Congress for late 2023.
Padilla said that while he was initially against the postponement of the polls, he sees an opportunity stemming from the clamor for amendments and revisions to the 1987 Constitution.
"Gusto kong ipaalam sa ating lupon na ako ay magpapasa ng panukala na kung tayo po ay pwedeng sumabay sa eleksyon na ito para tanungin ang taumbayan para sa isang referendum (I want to let the Senate know that I intend to pass a bill for a referendum that will coincide with the postponed barangay/SK elections)," he said during the Senate plenary session yesterday.
Padila chairs the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes.
He explained he had asked Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on the matter, and was told that this was feasible.
The Senate on Wednesday ratified a bicameral conference committee report for the postponement of barangay and SK elections to October 2023.
"Kaya kinukuha ko na po ang pagkakataon na ito para sabihin sa ating lupon na mas maganda siguro isabay na natin diyan sa eleksyon na yan ang paghingi natin ng mungkahi ng mga taumbayan at gumawa na po tayo ng referendum at tanungin na natin sila, isabay natin diyan kung kailangan na po ba talaga tingnan po natin kung kailangan nang baguhin ang Saligang Batas, tanungin natin ang taumbayan (I am taking this opportunity to say that it would be good to have the referendum coincide with the elections - let us ask the people what they think)," Padilla said.