Senior LP leaders rally behind PNoy’s openness to Cha-cha

President Benigno S. Aquino III is shown with House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. and Senate President Franklin Drilon, before delivering his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the Joint Session of the 16th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday (July 28). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacanang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — Senior leaders of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) on Thursday said they will call on their members to rally behind President Benigno Aquino III who has expressed openness to Charter change (Cha-cha).

Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, secretary general of LP, in a chance interview, said they do not want to bypass any member and need to get the pulse on how they will support the new position of the President to amend the Constitution.

Sarmiento claimed that after the President made the pronouncement of his openness, LP members who are waiting for signals are now enlighten to push Cha-cha.

“Ngayon na nagsalita na ang Pangulo, siguro napapanahon nang ma-discuss natin ito sa partido so that we will be able to come up with a collective decision on the issue.

Most likely most of the members will be supporting it,” he said.

He admitted that once they open the floodgate of amendments, no one can stop the flow of amendments to Constitution.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. earlier spearheaded a Joint Resolution calling for Charter Change centered on certain economic provisions.