MARCOS WANTS CHA-CHA PLEBISCITE IN 2025
SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants the ratification plebiscite for proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution done during the midterm elections in 2025.
Zubiri said the matter was discussed during a meeting between the senators and Marcos in Malacañang.
He said Marcos wanted the plebiscite to be conducted simultaneously with the 2025 elections to lessen its funding requirements.
“Because it’s very clear that if we do that before the election, we will spend P12 to P14 billion,” Zubiri said in a mix of Tagalog and English during an interview with reporters.
“So then, we don’t need to rush. So, we can take this up after the break and complete the resolution, and approve the resolution before the ‘sine die’ break. That’s our target,” said Zubiri.
‘Sine die’ is a summer break of sorts in between regular sessions.
Zubiri said Marcos also reiterated his stand that the Senate and the House of Representatives should vote separately on the constitutional amendments and these should only cover economic provisions.
“As a matter of fact, he wants the House to adopt our version,” he said.
“We sensed that the President only wants economic provisions. He doesn’t want trouble. He doesn’t want controversy, just work,” he added.
Zubiri earlier filed RBH (Resolution of Both Houses) 6 that aims for constitutional reforms in Article 12, 14, and 16 addressing restrictions on foreign ownership in public utilities, educational institutions, and the advertising industry by adding the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law.”
The Senate started its deliberation on RBH 6 in the first week of February.
Meanwhile, RBH 7, which is almost an exact reproduction of RBH 6, authored by Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Third District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker and Quezon Second District Rep. David Suarez, Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe and other House leaders, was filed at the House of Representatives.
The House kicked off deliberations on RBH 7 on Monday with House Speaker Martin Romualdez assuring they will leave political provisions of the Constitution untouched and adopt the Senate’s proposed amendments “in toto” to dispel doubts that their efforts are politically motivated.
“Our mission is clear to all of us now. Change some economic provisions that prevent the entry of businesses from other countries. Businesses that will create jobs and stimulate our economy -- this is our only goal. Economics, not politics,” assured Romualdez.