Palace to solons: Convince PNoy that Cha-cha is needed now

Lawmakers pushing for Charter change should convince President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III that now is the time to amend the 1987 Constitution if they want the backing of the executive branch, a Palace official said Tuesday. In an interview, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda maintained that Aquino sees no reason to begin the process of amending the Constitution as urged by some lawmakers formerly and currently allied with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a Charter change supporter. "There is no compelling reason right now that will convince the president to amend the Constitution. The lawmakers would have to impress upon the president the urgent need to amend the Constitution," Lacierda told reporters. "If you want the cooperation of the executive branch, certainly you would like to have the president to be convinced of the imperative need to amend the Constitution," he said. Evardone proposal Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, a former member of Arroyo's Lakas-Kampi-CMD who has jumped to Aquino's Liberal Party, said over the weekend that now is the best time for Charter change debates because Aquino has vowed not to run for any elective post in 2016. "With PNoy's declaration that he will not run for public office in 2016, I think this is the best time to start the national debate on Cha-cha," Evardone said. His call for Charter change debates was backed by Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay and Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, both Arroyo allies in the House of Representatives. Mrs. Arroyo, who is now the congressional representative of Pampanga's second district, is pushing for Charter change, with her first House resolution seeking the amendment of the Charter through a constitutional convention. Lacierda maintained that Aquino will only pave the way for Charter change through the formation of a Charter change commission which will determine whether there really is a need to amend the 1987 Constitution. Forming a Charter change commission was one of Aquino's campaign promises during the electoral period, but the President currently sees no need to create it, Lacierda said. No Cha-cha in LEDAC meet No Charter change measure is set to be tackled during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting at the end of the month where the executive and legislative branches will determine priority legislation. Both chambers of Congress have also indicated that Charter change will not be a priority in their legislative agenda. The 1987 Constitution was crafted under the administration of Aquino's mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, following the two-decade rule of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. During the time of then President Fidel Ramos, several personalities identified with Ramos also attempted to amend the Constitution but to no avail. Mrs. Arroyo's allies in the 14th Congress attempted to amend the 1987 Constitution through various legislation — giving rise to allegations that she wanted to change the Charter to enable herself to remain in power—but they were not successful. — RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV