By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Saying that it will only be a “waste of time and money,” the Liberal Party (LP) has junked the proposal to effect amendments to the 1987 Constitution following the renewed push of charter change (Cha-Cha) at the House of Representatives led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
In a statement on Tuesday, December 19, the erstwhile ruling party said pushing Cha-Cha at this point “will take away resources that could otherwise be used to address rising commodity prices, the education crisis, and new environmental and health threats.”
The LP also asked if the 1987 Constitution should be blamed why foreign investors were reluctant to invest in the country.
“Is the Constitution to blame on why investors are not approaching us?” When we open foreign ownership of businesses, are our infrastructures, manpower, and institutions ready for those changes?” the opposition party further said.
It also aired apprehensions that Cha-Cha will not only amend the economic provisions in the charter.
“When the amendment to the Constitution is opened, nothing prohibits the change in other provisions, which also includes those on term limits and the prohibition of political dynasties,” the LP maintained.
It added: “Any additional office, officials, positions, or even expenses are added to the burden of the Filipino people, especially in the midst of the biggest budget deficit and debt-financing in our history after the reckless borrowing from the [Rodrigo] Duterte administration.”
(IAMIGO/MNM)
