Recto says cha-cha is ‘dead’ in the Senate

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday announced that Charter change (Cha-Cha) is “dead” in the Senate. (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday announced that Charter change (Cha-Cha) is “dead” in the Senate.

This statement was made during the joint hearing of the Senate committees on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, and electoral reforms and people’s participation on Cha-Cha proposals.

“Clearly, we cannot do it in 10 session weeks, not to mention the possibility of the Senate being an impeachment court once again, not to mention we have to pass other laws as senators, as members of Congress,” Recto was quoted as saying in a GMA report.

“Based on what I’ve heard today, Cha-cha is dead in the Senate,” he added.

The Senate President Pro Tempore argued that ever since he entered public service in 1992, there has been no call to amend the 1987 Constitution or to shift the Philippine government to federalism.

“What I hear is call for amendments on the Local Government Code,” Recto said.

Chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, for his part, turned down Recto’s statement, stressing that the Senate has to undergo the process “properly.”

Allies of President Rodrigo Duterte in the House of Representatives are strongly pushing for Cha-Cha to make the way for the government’s transition into a federal form.