'Very impossible': Garin rules out political amendments in Cha-cha measure
At A Glance
- Another ranking House member in Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin has ruled out the insertion of political amendments to Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.7.
- Embodied in RBH No.7 are the proposed lifting of the economic prohibitions in Articles XII, XIV, and XVI of the 1987 Constitution, and nothing more.
Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Another ranking House member has ruled out the possible insertion of political amendments to Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.7.
“The political amendments are very impossible," House Deputy Majority Leader Iloilo 1st district Janette Garin said in a press conference Thursday, March 7, a day after the Committee of the Whole approved the pro-Charter change (Cha-cha) measure.
Embodied in RBH No.7 are the proposed lifting of the economic prohibitions in Articles XII, XIV, and XVI of the 1987 Constitution, and nothing more.
"Talking to most members of the House, almost all of them who support the bill are limited doon sa tatlong amendments [to the three amendments],” Garin said.
For the past two weeks during committee deliberations on RBH No.7, the House members and the invited resource speakers discussed nothing but economic-themed revisions to the Charter.
READ ME AGAIN:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/4/roman-it-s-political-suicide-to-push-for-political-cha-cha
Critics of RBH No.7 are convinced that the solons' ulterior motive is to ultimately include political amendments--like the extension of elected officials' terms in office--in the measure.
“No political amendments. Definitely hindi naman ‘yan maglolokahan sa floor (Definitely the discussions on the floor weren't just a ruse). The voice of the people and the voice of the majority of the members of Congress will be carried,” the lady lawmaker underscored.
Garin echoed an earlier opinion from Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman that switching gears at this point toward political Cha-cha would be "political suicide" for them.
“The direction of the current administration is not to taint the law, not to taint the proposed measure…This is all about our economy,” she further said.
The House of Representatives will attempt to approve RBH No.7 on second reading next week, and on third and final reading the week after, or just before the legislators go on Holy Week break.