Enrile to take Cha-cha issue to high court

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Wednesday vowed to lead senators in taking to the Supreme Court the issue of Charter change (Cha-cha) if the House of Representatives insists on amending the 1987 Constitution without the Senate. Enrile made the statement amid reports that the resolution authored by Kampi president and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte has garnered 180 signatures - 17 votes short of the 197 votes representing three-fourths of the total number of Senate and House members. "I will go to the Supreme Court and take them there," Enrile said in a press conference. The Senate President expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will take the side of the Senate, saying that "in the scale of 1 to 10, 10 they (House) will lose." In their bid to get 197 votes in the House, Villafuerte and other proponents of Charter change in the House are hoping to compel the Supreme Court to rule on whether Congress should vote jointly or separately in amending the Constitution. But Enrile insisted that the House cannot do it alone, even if proponents are able to get the required number. "The House still needs the support of the Senate to bring the proposal to the people. They need the Senate to approve the date (of the) plebiscite and funding for it," he said. Earlier, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde and presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio allayed fears that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, through her sons Mikey and Dato who are both House members, is behind moves to amend the Charter in order to extend her stay in office. Mikey is one of the signatories of the Villafuerte resolution. Remonde said the recent signing of the poll automation budget proves that President Arroyo wants the 2010 national elections to push through. Claudio made a similar statement, saying he doubts moves to amend the Charter before 2010 will flourish as poll automation is the priority of the Arroyo administration. "The whole country, the administration included, is on election mode and in the mood for elections. Even leaders of Congress and those identified with the Cha-cha resolution have declared their commitment to having the 2010 polls as scheduled," Claudio added. -Amita O. Legaspi and Johanna Camille Sisnate, GMANews.TV