Enrile wants Chacha talks revived

A day after Congress adjourned session, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Thursday said he wants to revive the discussion on Charter change (Chacha). During Thursday's weekly forum at the Senate, Enrile said he has been talking with House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. about the need to revisit the economic provisions of the Philippine Constitution. "Walang bill (There is no bill filed yet but) I'm provoking a discussion," he said. Enrile said he specifically wants to amend the constitutional provision which prescribes that foreign investors can only own up to 40 percent of every company based in the country. "We must release the rigidity and leave it to Congress to decide what are open to foreigners," he said, adding that adjusting this economic provision can create more jobs for Filipinos. "They (foreign investors) know that they come in, but under present laws, if they want to create hotels they need to put up a dummy because they cannot own a land," he added. Enrile noted, however, that he only wants to have Charter change only through a Constituent Assembly (Con-ass) and not through a Constitutional Convention (Con-con). In Con-ass, members of the Senate and House would convene to amend the Charter, while in Con-con people would elect delegates for convention. "Sino ba ang nakaiintindi ng problema kundi ang halal ng tao, halal ninyo (Who else will be able to understand the problems of the people but the people they themselves elected?)," he said. "Bakit tayo matatakot na debatihin ang buhay natin (Why are we afraid to debate something that affects out lives), why not discuss this very, very basic thing that affects the lives of people," he added. — LBG/RSJ, GMA News