[ad_1]
MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Friday that he is still not convinced that the change to the Charter (Cha-cha) is necessary amid moves to amend the Constitution.
“I am not yet convinced that we need a change in the Charter. When you say change in the kasi letter, we have to change the Constitution, not just the amendments to the Charter, ”Sotto said in an interview on CNN Philippines The Source.
“Right now, I’m not convinced that we need a Cha-cha, maybe we need a ‘cha-cha:’ character change. That is what the country needs. So CHA CHA ‘din yon. But different pronunciation, “he added.
In the upper house, Senators Francis Tolentino and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa previously presented a resolution seeking to convene Congress as a constituent assembly to introduce “limited amendments” to the Constitution.
A similar resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives by President Lord Allan Velasco.
The Velasco resolution, however, only covers certain economic provisions.
“Amendments to the Charter would probably be acceptable, particularly in the economic provisions, but again, ‘pag lumawak masyado, ibang usapan,” Sotto continued.
He said that he has already spoken with other senators about the proposed resolution presented in the Senate, but said that “they did not arrive at anything concrete.”
“I made some calls even two weeks ago when the resolution was raised … I spoke with other members … I discussed it with [Senate Minority Leader Franklin] Drilon and we talked about the procedures, the possibilities if we ever do, ”Sotto said.
“We need three-fourths of the vote to approve any amendment in this regard and we will insist on voting separately, we will insist that nothing is taken outside of the economic provisions. But that was it, it was a simple chat, “he added.
When asked about an earlier suggestion by Senator Francis Pangilinan to a group of senators on the matter, Sotto said he would likely ask for one, but only after the House of Representatives acts on the counterpart resolution in the lower house.
“Maybe I will [call for a caucus] after the House acts on it. If it is approved in plenary session and duly declared in a constituent assembly, then we will discuss the matter as a whole, as the Senate, ”said Sotto.
gsg
[ad_2]
