Senate Leaders Clash Over Charter Change
MANILA — Senate leaders have found themselves at odds once again, this time over the contentious topic of the Charter change debate. The disagreement follows their previous clash concerning Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, highlighting ongoing tensions within the upper chamber.
Senate President Francis Escudero ignited the debate with a pointed tweet on Sunday, directly responding to Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III’s stance on constitutional amendments. This public exchange has fueled further discussion on the future of the country’s Charter.
Escudero’s Criticism Sparks Debate
Escudero’s tweet criticized Sotto’s openness to revising the Constitution through a Constituent Assembly under specific conditions. He wrote in Filipino, “Go easy. You already sided with the impeachment of the House of Representatives and Speaker Martin Romualdez even if the Supreme Court already ruled that it is unconstitutional and now you’re also favoring HOR and Speaker Romualdez’s Cha-cha?!”
He concluded his message with a sharp reminder, using the hashtag: “The Senate is not your playground.” This statement underscored his disapproval of what he perceives as political maneuvering within the Senate regarding constitutional reforms.
Sotto Explains His Position on Constitutional Amendments
When asked about Escudero’s remarks, Sotto clarified his perspective on the Charter change debate. He explained that his support for a Constituent Assembly or a Constitutional Convention hinges on the Supreme Court’s ruling standing as is.
He said, “What I said was, if the SC ruling stands as is and the Constitution is amended by merely a SC decision, then I will consider supporting a Constituent Assembly or a Constitutional Convention to rewrite Article XI of the Constitution because the requirements written in the SC decision [are] impossible to meet.”
Sotto also rejected accusations of political bias, emphasizing his commitment to the Constitution. In Filipino, he stated, “I’m not siding anyone, I’m all for the constitution.”
Presidential Call to Review Charter Proposals
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the Senate to carefully review proposals to amend certain parts of the Constitution. He highlighted the need to ease restrictive economic provisions to attract more foreign direct investment, which he believes is vital for national progress.
These developments underscore the ongoing debate and differing views among the country’s top lawmakers on how best to approach constitutional reforms.
For more news and updates on Charter change debate, visit Filipinokami.com.
