Aquino to meet with allies to discuss proposed Cha-cha

President Benigno Aquino III will meet with his allies to discuss the proposed amendment to the 1987 Constitution, a Malacañang official said on Friday. However, at a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the schedule of the meeting is still being set. “Let me check the schedule. I’m certain that mag-uusap ang mga allies at saka si Presidente but as to the schedule wala pang clarification," he said. “The President has already mentioned that he will listen to the allies and discuss it (Chacha) but in so far as the specific schedule is concerned wala pa po," he added. Lacierda further said the senators and those pushing for the amendment of the Charter have to convince the President who has been consistent and firm in his stance on the matter. “I think it is a matter for the senators and allies to convince the president. Right now, while it is true that he has no further political ambition after six years, his position remains the same that there is no need to amend the Constitution," he said. Senator Franklin Drilon on Thursday said Cha-cha moves will not prosper without Aquino’s support (). “It will take first the senators to ask the President to reconsider his position and that is where the meeting will take place and to flesh out their ideas," Lacierda said. Meanwhile, Lacierda also denied the claim of opposition lawmakers that members of the Liberal Party were the ones pushing for Cha-cha. “The observation na Liberal ang nagpupush has to be verified. That’s a statement made by Minority congressmen and they are trying to put a wedge between the allies of the President and the President himself," he said. Last Thursday, leaders of both chambers of Congress agreed to proceed separately with the process to amend economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. Aquino, however, thumbed down the move saying Cha-cha is not a necessary move at this time to spur the country’s economic growth. - VVP, GMA News