Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers says the senators' reason for opposing charter change (Cha-cha) has something to do with their supposed desire to preserve their political longevity.

“The real reason (in opposing Cha-cha) is to perpetuate a Constitution that favors only the oligarchs, and most importantly for the senators, one that grants them undue political longevity,” said Barbers.

In a statement on Sunday, Jan. 28, the senior lawmaker suggested that if Cha-cha was to succeed, the upper chamber or Senate would presumably fear a political amendment in the Constitution that would impact the length of their tenure.

Under the 1987 Constitution, senators are the only elected officials allowed a maximum term of 12 years, or two successive six-year terms. By comparison, the president of the land is limited to only one six-year term. 

Barbers claims that senators “don’t want to get out of their comfort zones”. He claims this has been their “modus operandi since 1987”.

“Some Senators feign support for Cha-Cha but exploit every opportunity to halt it. They don’t want to carry it out via Con-Con (Constitutional Convention), via Con-Ass (Constituent Assembly) and now with the People’s Initiative (PI). And everybody can clearly see what this means,” the solon stressed.

On Jan. 23, the Senate issued a manifesto signed by all 24 senators, rejecting the House of Representatives’ bid for Cha-cha through the PI, which has been mired by allegations of bribery and other illegal activities.

Barbers would condemn this manifesto, arguing that it portrays a “demonized image on the supporters of PI”.

He said allegations that PI intends to revise the Constitution by eliminating the Senate from the equation is “an unfounded and deceptive attribution to the House”.  

“The attributed goal is not only speculative but groundless in the light of the express and clear language of the Constitution that repeatedly states vote by 'all' members of Congress without distinction between Senate and House of Representative in proposing charter amendment,” said Barbers, chairman of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs.

“It is thus a matter of differring opinion on the matter which has been lingering for several decades and for the past several administrations. The Senate should also respect with dignity the proponents of opposite interpretation, and not demonizing them to a level that is tantamount to hindering democratic freedom of expression,” he noted.  

Barbers said the PI proponents took the courage not for self-interest but to pursue the interest of the Filipino people.  

“They hope that the Senate will not be a stumbling block to this effect. After all, whatever would be the outcome of the People’s Initiative, it is the voice of the Filipino people who will finally decide in the plebiscite,” the congressman pointed out.