Charter Change bill is practically dead, says Padilla
Published May 25, 2023 08:23 am
As Congress goes into a sine die adjournment on June 2, the bill of Senator Robinhood C. Padilla seeking amendments to the 1987 Constitution, particularly its “restrictive” economic provisions, is practically dead.
“Ang malungkot talagang yung apat na PDP-Laban ang sumasangayon dun sa committee report (What is sad is that the four Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban agree to the committee report),” Padilla said during a press briefing at the Senate.
“Yung ibang kasama natin na ginagalang natin wala silang sagot o pirma (My other colleagues whom I respect have no answer or signature on the report),’’ he said.
The PDP-Laban members are Senators Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa, Francis ‘’TOL’’ Tolentino and Padilla, The fourth is Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, who belongs to the Pacquiao/Pimentel wing.
Copies of the committee has been routed to senators.
Padilla conceded that his other colleagues had advised or hinted to him that his bill ‘’has no future’’ of being passed in the Upper House.
Even Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had said that the focus of the Senate is the 10 measures agreed upon during a meeting of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
Padilla earlier said he could not seek the President’s help since it sends the message that the Senate is under the executive branch.
President Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ R. Marcos Jr had also said the Padilla charter change bill is not a priority.
He pointed out that his economic provisions in his bill had a very negative impact on its chances of passing.
Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile favored the deletion of the 60/40 investment ratio - 40 percent for foreign investors and 60 percent for Filipinos - in the Constitution.
Enrile and others who had appeared before the Senate constitutional amendments committee of Padilla said this restrictive economic provision turns off foreign investors.
Asked if his charter change bill is dead, Padilla said: ‘’Yung economic provisions nasabay sa gulo sa malaking kapulungan (the economic provisions became a hot topic because of ongoing controversies at the Bigger House {House of Representatives}.’’
‘’Kung may naiisip silang paraan for economic na hindi kailangan ng amendya ng constitution edi sige hindi naman ako mahirap kausap (I am agreeable to proposals on the economic provisions without amending the Constitution),’’ he added.
Padilla earlier said ‘’the Senate may reject it. I can lose, but I’d rather the people know I stood firm on my position. I want that more. It’s not important that I win but I end up bowing. No way.’’