Solon: Rumors of term extension, PM post in Cha-cha ‘all garbage’

The rumors of political amendments to the 1987 Constitution are nothing but garbage.

Thus, said Lanao del Norte 1st District Rep. Khalid Dimaporo as he gave an impassioned talk Wednesday, Feb. 21, as to why the sought revisions to the economic provisions of the existing Charter were urgently needed.

“Why is it urgent? Because government cannot pay for everything,” Dimaporo, chairman of the House Committee on Muslim Affairs, said in a press conference. “We need the private sector. And the domestic private sector is limited in funds. And that’s why we need to amend the Constitution so we can attract foreign investors. I think that is really the drive of our President.”

“This is not about, what’s this— yung mga hearsays na, you amend the Constitution, ma-prolong yung mga term limits, babalik si President for another term, or maging Prime Minister si Speaker. All of that is garbage (This is not about, what’s this—the hearsays that when you amend the Constitution, public officials’ term limits will be prolonged, the President will come back for another term, or the Speaker will become Prime Minister),” Dimaporo said.

“It’s very simple: economic provisions. Let’s start the debate already and let’s be as transparent as possible so that the Filipino people would not doubt their legislators,” stressed the Mindanaoan solon.

The House of Representatives, acting as a Committee of the Whole, is set to deliberate on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.7 on Monday, Feb. 26.

RBH No. 7 is an exact copy of the

Senate’s RBH No. 6, which proposes amendments to Articles XII, XIV and XVI, focusing on the national patrimony, economy, education and general provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Dimaporo further explained the need for economic Cha-cha in layman’s terms.

“We are heavily indebted because of the Covid years. And we want to bring in investors, we want to bring in foreign funds. Foreign funds will lead to job creation, foreign funds will lead to better services.

“But we have an obstacle—and that is the 1987 Constitution. That’s what President Marcos is concerned about. And he wants to relieve the Filipino people of the burden of having a hard time finding a job, kailangang mag-abroad pa tayo (that we need to go abroad), just to get decent wages,” he said.