VP calls Cha-cha talks ‘untimely,’ gov’n should prioritize other problems

FILE: Robredo stressed that as a government official, they were elected to fulfill their promises and that she will do this until her term finishes. (Photo: VP Leni Robredo/Facebook)

Amidst the talks on the amendment and revision of the 1987 Constitution, the Vice President calls these as ‘untimely’ when the administration has to solve other problems of the citizens.

“Hindi napapanahon ang diskusyon ukol sa pag-amyenda ng ating Saligang Batas, at lalo ang anumang mungkahing baguhin ang termino ng liderato at ipagpaliban ang eleksyon sa susunod na taon, dahil sa dami ng bumabagabag sa ating mga kababayan ngayon (Discussions on the amendment of our Constitution are untimely, especially recommendations to change the term of office and the skipping of the elections the next year, when there are a lot of things bothering our citizens),” Vice President Maria Lenor “Leni” Robredo said in a statement on Sunday, July 8.

She enumerated problems including recent developments like the back-to-back killings of local government officials and the rising prices of commodities versus the citizens’ “insufficient income.”

“Ang inaasahan ng taumbayan sa kanilang mga pinuno ay hanapan ng solusyon ang kanilang pang-araw araw na problema (What the people expect from their leader is to find solutions to their everyday problems),” she added.

The Vice President further said that Charter change (Cha-cha) should not be rushed and should not benefit those in power.

“Kung pilitin ito nang hindi isinasalang sa akmang pag-aaral at konsultasyon, hindi ba’t isinusugal natin ang kinabukasanan ng ating bayan? Hindi ito dapat ginagawa sa paraang sinasakripisyo na natin ang pagtugon sa matitimbang na isyung kinahaharap ng pamilyang Pilipino (If this is pushed without undergoing the proper study and consultation, aren’t we sacrificing the future of our country? This should not be done in a way that we will sacrifice responding to the relevant issues that Filipino families are facing),” she said.

Robredo stressed that as a government official, they were elected to fulfill their promises and that she will do this until her term finishes.

She issued the statement days after the Consultative Committee tasked to review the constitutional amendment and revision proposals approved the draft that will shift the country’s unitary government to a federal government.

The said committee formed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte last December will submit the draft on July 9.