Pimentel says ‘just a minority’ amenable to Cha-cha

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III admitted, too, that “just a minority” of senators are supporting Charter change (Cha-cha). (File photo: Senator Koko Pimentel/Facebook)

MANILA – The move to amend the economic side of the constitution is garnering more support than changes on political provisions.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III admitted, too, that “just a minority” of senators are supporting Charter change (Cha-cha).

“Just to be realistic and to be honest, with the feedback, although informal feedback that we have been getting, I believe that the effort to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution has bigger support than the effort to amend the political provisions of the Constitution,” Pimentel said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Monday.

Pimentel reiterated he is open to constitutional review and changing the form of government to federalism but proposals should be clear.

“Those who are calling for the amendments must speak in specific terms. Hindi po pwedeng puro general lang (This cannot be just in general),” he said.

He is also aware that the House of Representatives cannot pursue with the charter review without the participation of the Senate.

“It is impossible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara believes a review is needed for the “vintage” 1987 Constitution.

“You know, that’s almost 40 years. The world has changed a lot from 1997. I think, economic boundaries have come down. The Speaker (Martin Romualdez), I think, had mentioned about economic provisions being reviewed. So, I think that’s something worth reviewing because we need some flexibility in that area also,” Angara said in a separate interview with ANC.

Romualdez previously said the House will start studying during the Christmas break how to pursue Cha-cha next year, focused on economic provisions to make it “more attuned, sensitive, and responsive to the times.”