Malacañang reiterates Chacha not a priority

Malacanañg on Thursday reiterated that amending the Constitution is not the priority of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. The Palace made the restatement after Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile made a call for the revival of discussions on the need to revisit the economic provisions of the Philippine Constitution, particularly on foreign ownership. “Tungkol sa pag-amyenda ng Saligang Batas, ang aming posisyon po ay pareho pa rin, hindi namin tinitignan ang [Charter change or Chacha] bilang isang prayoridad sa ating sitwasyon ngayon," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing. He said the concerns of the business sector have been addressed and, in fact, “dumadami po ang ating foreign investors ngayon. So Chacha is not a priority in general," he said. However, he said President Aquino cannot stop the lawmakers from discussing possible amendments to the Charter they want to make. — LBG, GMA News