Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has accused senators of holding potentially beneficial reforms "hostage" with their "obstructionist" attitude toward Charter change (Cha-cha). 

“Our records show that they have consistently been obstructionist when it came to Charter reform in the past three decades - for a total of 12 Congresses or for 34 to 35 years - from the 8th Congress to the present 19th Congress,” Rodriguez said in a statement Wednesday, Jan. 31. 

“They have held hostage reforms that could have accelerated our economic growth, generated more investments and created more income and job opportunities for our people,” stressed the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chairman. 

Citing his committee’s data, Rodriguez said a total of 358 Cha-cha measures had been filed by the House during the 8th Congress up to the current 19th Congress. 

Of these, 83 proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution via Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass), 105 through a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) and 98 by way of Congress holding separate sessions, he said. 

The recent People’s Initiative (PI)--a purely civilian action for Cha-cha--is also being rejected by the senators. 

Rodriguez said the Senate’s obstinate opposition to constitutional amendment efforts from the House has prompted some congressmen to support people’s organizations in launching the PI, the mode the Constitution itself provides for a direct popular proposition for Charter change. 

“That process will bypass the Senate. I personally do not want that to happen, but I think majority of us will support it out of frustration over the Senate’s obstructionism,” the Mindanao lawmaker added. 

“But if they want to remain obstructionist, that is their own lookout. Our patience is fast running out. They cannot stop our constituents from launching a people’s initiative as their last resort to effect constitutional reform,” he stressed. 

The 300-member House and 24-member Senate comprise the Philippine bicameral Congress.