Now is the best time to Cha-cha, says House leader

THERE is no better time than now to push for Charter change because the President and the leaders of Congress enjoy the trust of the people, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said yesterday.

Gonzales disclosed that Enrile and Belmonte are scheduled to meet with the President on Monday to assure him that Congress has no other intention in pushing for Charter change than to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution.

According to Gonzales, the trust enjoyed by the country’s executive and legislative leaders could be likened to Halley’s Comet, a situation which is not expected to be seen in a long time.

He said the country has a President who is trusted by the people to have no political agenda, a Senate President ( Juan Ponce Enrile) that has no known plans of becoming Prime Minister and a House Speaker ( Feliciano Belmonte) that is also believed to have no such intention.

“The key for the success of Cha-cha is dependent on the three political leaders,” he told reporters.

Earlier efforts to amend the Constitution had been met with opposition because of public suspicion that members of Congress are undertaking the exercise to extend their terms of office.

This time, House representatives are saying the push for Charter change would only involve adding the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law.”

Other proposed changes would have to go through the legislative mill and would have to have the President’s approval.

To further show that Congress has no other intention other than touching on the economic provisions, Gonzales said the House and the Senate could pass concurrent resolutions saying as much.