MANILA — Amidst the ongoing disputes among lawmakers regarding differing strategies for Charter change, President Marcos has intervened, instructing them to carry out their duties “without any fuss.”
“Maybe I don’t proclaim but some were saying I need to intervene, I have been talking to both sides for a long time,” the President said in a media interview after attending the 16th Ani ng Dangal Awards in Manila.
“But you know, what for me is more important than these proclamations and pronouncements is to get it done. We do it quietly,” Marcos said.
“We just want to get those amendments incorporated into the Constitution to improve the chances of investment and upskilling of our people,” he stressed.
When questioned about his consultations with legal luminaries and experts on the Constitution, Marcos replied, “Months ago.”
When further probed about his favored approach to amending the Constitution, the President reiterated his longstanding stance for the Senate to lead the process.
“What’s happening now, I always said the Senate will take the lead. The Senate is taking the lead and between the two Houses they will come to an agreement, then that will be the way we’ll do it,” he said.
Marcos stated that the decision to amend the Constitution had been made long ago by both leaders of Congress.
“But I don’t know why there is such. It’s really a storm in a tea cup because this has been decided very long ago by the leaders of both Houses,” the Chief Executive said.
Marcos has consistently advocated for amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution to align it with the globalized world and facilitate increased foreign investment in the country.
During his speech at the Constitution Day observance in Makati City earlier this month, Marcos emphasized that any reforms to the Constitution would focus solely on its economic provisions.
“I want to make it clear: This administration’s position in introducing reforms to our Constitution extends to economic matters alone, or those strategically aimed at boosting our country’s economy. Nothing more,” he said.
The Senate and the House of Representatives have been engaged in disagreements over their divergent approaches to amending the Constitution. The Senate has shown resistance to Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 (RBH6) put forward by the House leadership, arguing that it advocates for a joint voting on Charter change, which is viewed as undermining the Senate’s authority.
In an attempt to resolve the deadlock, House leaders filed Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 (RBH7) on Monday, which is described as an “almost exact reproduction” of RBH6. The goal is to expedite the Charter change process and reach a conclusion before the Holy Week.
