Press Release
November 25, 2008

KIKO: SHELVE CHACHA, FOCUS ON ECONOMIC CRISIS

With fears escalating that administration allies in the House of Representatives might railroad the move to amend the Constitution as they near the required 176 signatures or 3/4 of the 238 congressmen to launch ChaCha, Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today called for the shelving of ChaCha and to instead focus on the effect of the economic crisis on Filipinos here and abroad.

"Is it not insulting to our people that government is busy trying to make ChaCha happen overnight while they confront the effects of the economic crisis? The times are harder than ever and the people are looking at government for some sign that it will be able to protect its citizens from this global problem, and yet what do we give them? The people need mitigating measures that will cushion the impact of the high prices of commodities and the lack of job opportunities, they don't need these self-serving debates on ChaCha," Kiko said.

"We cannot be complacent, because while they say that the House Resolution does not discuss any term extension, once ConAss is underway, political law principles provide that a constituent assembly is like a fourth branch of government and no one can prevent the discussion of term extension or other amendments such as the shift to a parliamentary form of government. The Constitution allows for everything and anything to be tackled in a con ass and limiting the debates to federalism is of doubtful legality," Kiko added.

"We are against ChaCha before 2010, and if government recklessly pushes for it, this may very well be the spark that will lead to a people's uprising against this government. Our call to government: Get real! Stop ChaCha now. They do not have the support from a vast majority of our people to make it happen," Kiko ended.

News Latest News Feed