A debate ensued between Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Martin Romualdez regarding the Charter Change (Cha-Cha).
“I no longer wanted to fight with my colleague in Congress. I haven’t slept for one week, so I haven’t been able to respond to you because we are sorting out an issue, and we were able to get consensus from everyone, including the president. I think those questions about the Speaker should be asked to the Speaker,” according to Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.
Zubiri expresses concern over the People’s Initiative (PI) advocating for Cha-cha.
Almost all senators in the Upper House are against it as it diminishes the power of the Senate.
Zubiri personally conveyed this concern to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. stating that the President was unaware of the potential reduction of Senate powers in the ongoing PI.
A meeting was held with Zubiri, President Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday, January 9.
“After that, he asked me to meet with the Speaker. I met with him Tuesday evening, after which we had a lively, vigorous debate on the issue,” Zubiri said.
PH Senate to lead constitution review on economic provisions of 1984 Constitution
One week before the opening of the congressional session, Zubiri was at the Senate to submit a resolution advocating for Cha-cha.
The Senate president’s resolution of both Houses No. 6 aims to amend certain economic provisions in the constitution, including public services, education, and advertising.
The said resolution was the result of a meeting among Zubiri, House Speaker Romualdez, and President Marcos on January 11.
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo, Jr. were also present in the meeting.
“The president’s direction is good. He told me and Speaker, ‘why don’t the Senate take the lead on the discussion of the economic provisions, and then you approve your version which the House can adopt?’ That was the position of the president,” Zubiri stated.
A special sub-committee will be formed under the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments to discuss reforms in economic provisions, led by Senator Sonny Angara.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Senators Sonny Angara and Loren Legarda signed the resolution.
Zubiri stated that the majority in the Senate and even the President support the push for Cha-Cha for economic provisions.
“They are all happy that the President said we should go through this kind of process, not like the previous ones where they want to sideline the Senate and have amendments that the Senate cannot control,” he said.
Amid the Senate’s move towards economic Cha-Cha, Zubiri hopes that House Speaker Romualdez will follow suit to avoid a constitutional crisis.
“You know, all my colleagues are eager to attack, and I told them if we fight, there is a point of no return. Because if the House and Senate engage in a bloody battle, how can our laws be passed? … The losers of this outcome are the people,” he stated.
Zubiri said the economic Cha-Cha will be a priority for the Senate, and he said he will ensure the amendment of political provisions does not pass.
