MANILA – A recent survey stating that at least 88% of Filipinos are against Charter change (Cha-cha) shows that amending the 1987 Constitution should not be rushed, according to some senators.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the latest Pulse Asia survey is a “true eye-opener” and that any moves to amend the Constitution should be studied carefully by the senators.
“This survey is a true eye-opener, at kaya nga pinag-aaralan namin nang mabuti ito at hindi minamadali,” Zubiri said. “This survey shows it is an unpopular move, with almost nine out of 10 Filipinos opposed to changing the Charter.”
“These are things to be weighed in and carefully put into consideration by the subcommittee and the Senate as a whole,” the Negrense lawmaker added in his statement.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva agreed with Zubiri, saying that changing the current Constitution is not the utmost concern of the Filipino people right now.
“Our bosses have spoken. Klarong-klaro po na peke ang isinulong nilang P.I. (People’s Initiative) at hindi po Charter change ang kailangan ngayon ng taumbayan mula sa gobyerno,” Villanueva said.
He added: “With 88% of Filipinos saying that they are against Cha-cha, this is a clear indication that there is no need to fast-track the hearings of the Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments, as there is no urgency in amending the Constitution.”
Based on a survey released by Pulse Asia on Wednesday, 88 percent of Filipinos do not support revisions to the Charter at this time, while only eight percent believe that the Constitution should be amended now.
The survey also found that regardless of socioeconomic background, most were not in favor of current proposals to lift foreign ownership restrictions in the 1987 Constitution as contained in the House and Senate resolutions to amend the Charter.
The House of Representatives has been urging the Senate to immediately amend the 1987 Constitution, citing the need to relax the so-called restrictive economic restrictions that supposedly hinder foreign investments in the country./PN
