Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Mannix Dalipe (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

House Majority Leader Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Mannix Dalipe challenged all 24 senators on Tuesday, Feb. 6 to "open their cards" and show the Filipino public exactly where they stand on the issue of constitutional revision. 

This, after the Senate made pronouncements that it would take its sweet time with Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.6--the pro-Charter change (Cha-cha) measure that the House wants to hasten the passage of. 

"This is my challenge now to all senators: Why don't you, 24, come out in the open? Sino ba yung pabor (Who are in favor) to amend the Constitution, to update the 37-year-old Constitution? Sino yung mga kontra (Who are against it)?" Dalipe said in a press briefing. 

"Para by 2025 (So that by 2025)--this is my challenge to the senators. Come out in the open, wag po tayong magtago (let's us not hide)," he said. 

"And the people of the Philippines will decide whom to put in the Senate. Let's come out, let us not hide, you know, in veils and saying all these words na lumalabas parang nag-aaway (it makes us appear to be quarreling). 

"Open cards tayo sa taumbayan (Let's open our cards to the peopl)...let's put our proposals transparent to the Filipino people," noted the majority leader. 

Doing so, Dalipe added, would make it easier for Filipinos to discern who among the two dozen senators were in favor and opposed to amending the economic provisions of the existing Charter. 

"I strongly urge the senators to come out in the open. Sino yung mga kontra (Who are those who do not want) to amend the 37-year-old Constitution...State your position." 

Before this, the Senate seemingly changed its timeline for the passage of RBH No.6 from March 2024 to October 2024. 

The next mid-year or local elections--which will determine a new set of lawmakers, including 12 senators--will take place in May 2025.