By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Anticipating that the economic charter change (Eco Cha-Cha) will be passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro on Thursday (14 March 2024) said they are considering challenging it before the Supreme Court.
“Just in case na matapos na rin ito eh pag-iisipan din po natin yung pagpapasa ng petition sa Supreme Court kasama ng No to Cha-Cha Coalition,” Castro said in a press conference.
Castro, however, noted that the Eco Cha-Cha being pushed by the lower chamber appears to be “not a priority” of the upper chamber of Congress.
On the other hand, House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin lamented hearing news of Filipinos being hostaged again overseas, knowing that they cannot get jobs in the country because of the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
“Nang naipasa natin on 2nd reading yung economic Chacha, sumabay dito yung balita ng ating mga seafarers, yung 17 na nahostage ulit ng Houthi rebels. So napakasakit noon na narerealize mo ulit na dahil sa walang flexibility o saradong-sarado yung ating mga batas o yung ating Konstitusyon ay talagang de kahon,” Garin noted.
She said these economic restrictions compelled many Filipinos to seek the proverbial greener pastures outside the Philippines.
“Kaya tuloy di tayo makahabol sa ibang bansa at yung ating magagaling na Pilipino ay napipilitan na mangibang-bansa magtrabaho doon kasi dito sa atin kulang na kulang yung pumapasok na investors,” Garin said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
