By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Claiming that the time is not yet ripe to change the 1987 Constitution, Senator Imee Marcos on Friday, December 15, said charter change (Cha-Cha) only distracts the government from addressing the real problems in the country.
The presidential sister remarked as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. said Charter change should focus on attracting investors in the country.
“Pero ang totoo, hindi talaga napapanahon dahil ang dami nating problema ngayon. Kaka-recover lang natin sa pandemic, pabalik na naman, paikot-ikot ‘yang virus na ‘yan, at hindi pa sapat talaga ang pagbangon at pagbigay ng trabaho sa taumbayan,” Senator Imee stressed.
On Wednesday, December 13, without directly mentioning the name of her cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez who is now pushing for charter change, Senator Imee hinted that someone might want to be Prime Minister because the person can’t win the presidency.
Senator Imee is believed to be eyeing to be the running mate of Vice President Sara Duterte if she runs for president in 2028.
In a speech before the House adjourned its session until January 22, 2024, Romualdez bared that Cha-cha was needed to unlock the country’s potential as an investment destination.
“Next year, we will focus our attention on studying and reviewing proposals that deal with the restrictions blocking the entry of foreign capital and investment in the Philippines,” Romualdez said.
Diskarteng Pinoy
Diskarteng Pinoy, a regional party in Region 7 seeking Comelec registration and eventual accreditation as a party-list for 2025 polls, has strongly supported Romualdez’s Cha-Cha plans.
However, it also urged Congress to consider shifting to a unitary parliamentary system of government to speed up the passage of laws to propel economic development and curtail legislative operational expenses.
(ai/mnm)
