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Villafuerte says Senate attacks have backfired; cites wide public support for PI, Cha-cha
Villafuerte says Senate attacks have backfired; cites wide public support for PI, Cha-cha
At A Glance
- Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte claims that the senators' tirades on the People's Initiative (PI) movement and Charter change (Cha-cha) in general have backfired.
Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (PPAB)
Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte claims that the senators' tirades on the People’s Initiative (PI) movement and Charter change (Cha-cha) in general have backfired.
This, as such attacks have developed more public awareness and support for the need to amend the 1987 Constitution, Villafuerte claims.
“Their misguided angst over this legit constitutional process has only put amending the Constitution on centerstage—and all the more drawn national awareness to, and support for, the urgency of ridding our fundamental law of its antiquated provisions on economic protectionism at this time of an increasingly borderless world.”
The 300-member House has been pursuing the lifting of the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. The 24-member Senate, on the other hand, appear to be more concerned with the checks and balances pertaining to how Cha-cha will be carried out.
This has resulted in the exchange of thorny statements from both the co-equal legislative chambers.
Like Speaker Martin Romualdez, Villafuerte said he welcomed the earlier move by senators led by Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri to set in motion the Senate approval of Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.6, which proposed amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution. RBH No.6 was filed only last Jan. 15.
But senators almost immediately noted the possibility of political reforms to the existing Charter and spoke about its supposed dangers in case the PI movement is successful in making joint voting of Congress (House and Senate) the norm for Cha-cha.
Another Bicol solon, Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda, had earlier said that the PI proponents have achieved the needed number of signatures to back their petition.
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As per the Constitution, the petition has to be backed by 12 percent of all registered voters, with at least 3 percent of every legislative district represented therein.
"The Senate is now raising the issue of political reforms in the Constitution in its Jan. 23 manifesto—although the popular clamor now is only for lifting the anachronistic economic provisions that spook foreign investors— apparently out of fear that any Charter Change initiative could possibly lead to rationalizing or reforming the term-limit provisions of which our senators are the biggest beneficiaries," Villafuerte said.
“Our senators seem seized with mental anguish about the possibility for political reforms in the 37-year-old Constitution that would rationalize term limits and thereby put them on equal footing with all other elective officials in the land,” he said.
The Bicolano had earlier highlighted that senators have the longest potential maximum term out of all local elected officials.
Senators can serve up to two successive six-year terms, or a 12 years in total. This is twice longer than the term of the President and Vice President.
On the other hand, House members can have three successive three-year terms.