House leader backs ‘Cha-cha’
A LEADER in the House of Representatives supported on Monday proposals to change the 1987 Constitution, saying the amendments should not come later as it would give the impression that politicians are merely attempting to extend elected officials’ terms of office.
“It is better to initiate Charter change (“Cha-cha”) long before the 2028 presidential elections, so that the public can rest assured that this is no attempt to extend President [Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.]’s term,” Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda, who heads the House Ways and Means Committee, said in a statement.
“The time to do it is now, when there is also enough time to do it before the 2025 midterm elections.
“It is natural and normal for democracies to revise their Constitutions, to suit the evolving needs of the times, as well as to adjust for conditions that framers did not foresee,” he said.
Mr. Salceda noted that the United States Constitution, which heavily inspired the Philippines’ own charter, has been amended 27 times.
“In contrast, we have not amended the 1987 Constitution for almost 40 years now, despite having provisions that obviously require revision. In many ways, we are unnatural for the way we hold the 1987 Constitution as if it were unerring,” Mr. Salceda said.
Before Congress adjourned for the Christmas break, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez revived talks to amend the 1987 Constitution to ease economic restrictions.
The lower chamber in March passed Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, calling to amend the Constitution through a constitutional convention. The measure was not approved in the Senate.
Last week, Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman said municipal mayors were allegedly asked to give P100 for every constituent that signs a petition to amend the Constitution through a people’s initiative.
“If the campaign for people’s initiative to amend the Constitution is inspired by noble and patriotic motives, then why buy the people’s will?” he said in a statement.
Mr. Lagman added that the act violates Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code in relation to Sec. 19 of the Initiative and Referendum Act. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz