FOURTH District Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. tagged the proponents of Charter Change at this time as those suffering from “ideological confusion”.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, the former five-time Speaker of the House of Representatives said Cha-Cha backers should now “move forward” after the proposal has been practically shelved at the Lower Chamber.

Since the Cha-Cha is lost, De Venecia suggested that they move for a Constitutional Convention, elect the delegates simultaneously with the coming presidential and local elections to save on funds, and then convene a Constitutional Convention under a new President, not under an extended President.

He noted that in the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments headed by La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, one group has rejected the proposal to send the Charter Change resolutions to the archive, a move that considers a resolution almost as good as dead.

Another group in that committee had proposed to at least revive it in the plenary but was out-voted, six to five.

At the same time, he twitted the Cha-Cha proponents who want to concentrate on lifting the economic provision (in the Constitution), which he maintains is actually a decoy to open the constitution for amendments.

Asked what the decoy is, De Venecia said the charter proponents want to get everybody to attend the session and spring a surprise once they muster a three-fourth vote.

Meanwhile, De Venecia also revealed his plan to form a powerful coalition that will endorse a presidential candidate.

“Otherwise, it’s the same politics all over again, the same corruption and the same business-as-usual all over again,” he said.

“We need an enlarged rainbow coalition where we bring in all the major political parties, including the leaders of civil society, religious and business leaders so we can propel this country forward,” De Venecia added.—LM

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments