Lawmakers urged to show sobriety amid Cha-cha row

BOCAUE Vice Mayor Sherwin Tugna called on lawmakers to show sobriety and political maturity amid the continuing spat between the Senate and House of Representatives over Charter change (Cha-cha).

The former three-term representative of the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption decried the “name-calling and petty disputes particularly targeting Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva.”

Tugna said Villanueva was “merely upholding the integrity and independence of the institution he represents.”

“The exchanges between both houses of the legislature have sadly descended to a point where there are insinuations that reelectionist senators in the 2025 midterm election may not be able to count on the support from district and party-list congressmen,” he said.

“The deliberations of our Constitution demand respect and cooperation from both houses of Congress as taxpayer money is being spent on these proceedings,” he added.

Villanueva earlier said lawmakers should first discuss the merits of proposed amendments to the constitution. He issued the statement after House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe challenged senators to make a stand on Charter change.

“In light of the ongoing discussions surrounding Charter change, it is essential for us, as public servants, to demonstrate sobriety and political maturity. I join the public in calling upon both houses of the legislature to conduct themselves with dignity, fostering debates on the merits and implications of Charter change solely for the benefit of the Filipinos,” Tugna said.

“Let us set aside personal agendas and partisan interests, focusing instead on policies that genuinely benefit the nation,” he added.