Senator Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV on Monday clarified that in all the minority senators’ caucuses, which occurred frequently, the topic of Charter change, widely referred to as “Cha-cha,” was never brought up, emphasizing that many of them would defend the 1987 Constitution.
“‘Yung video po na nakita po natin, marami pong pagsisinungaling. Unang-una po, kaklaruhin ko po, we have been meeting as a minority maybe two times a week. Baka naging three times pa ‘yan. At ni isang beses po napag-usapan ang Constitutional Change,” he said, adding that it was not even brought up by former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, or former Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.
“Wala pong pag-push, wala pong nagsabi, ‘Mag-meeting tayo para mag Cha-cha, mag-Con-Ass (Constituent assembly).’ Wala pong nangyaring ganyan,” he stressed.
The video presented by Senator Imee Marcos earlier, during her privilege speech, alleged that the new majority had taken over to preempt Cha-cha, which Aquino disputed.
“Kung ‘yun po ‘yung ibig sabihin ng video, at dahil nagkaroon ng leadership change para pigilan ang Con-Ass, ay marami pong naniwala sa fake news. Dahil wala iyan sa kahit ano mang plano ng (dating) mayorya,” he said.
Aquino cited Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan’s manifestation, wherein he said there had been no hearings on Cha-cha during his time as chair of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments.
“Sabi ni Senator Pangilinan, wala man silang napakinggan—any motion, any bill on Charter change, wala po. So kung sasabihin niyo po sa’min, ang rason kung bakit nagkaroon ng leadership change, ay para pigilan ang isang Con-Ass o Con-Con, ibig pong sabihin niyan, marami ang naniwala sa fake news dahil hindi po totoo ‘yan,” Aquino reiterated.
The senator expressed confidence that many of them would defend the prevailing 1987 Constitution; if they had only been asked, he believed that all 24 senators, from both the minority and majority blocs, would declare their opposition against Cha-cha.
“Sa totoo lang po, marami po dito, ipaglalaban ang 1987 Constitution. Marami po dito, hindi papayag na baguhin ‘yan sa terminong ito. Marami po dito, hindi lang sa mayorya, pati rin po sa minority ang magsasama-sama para hindi mabago ang 1987 Constitution… Marami rin po dito na hindi papayag sa isang No Election scenario,” he said.
“Kung tinanong lang po kami, siguro po, masasabi po natin, ngayon palang, kung nagbilangan tayo ngayon, ay baka 24 ang makuha natin na hindi papayag sa charter change. Baka 24 po ang makita po natin na hindi papayag na walang eleksyon. So para sabihin po na ‘yung Minority, ‘yan ang pinaka-pakay, ‘yun po’y mali, ‘yun po’y fake news, ‘yun po’y misinformation,” he added.
Earlier, Senator Marcos declared she was opposed to alleged efforts to extend government officials’ terms, amending the 1987 Constitution, which she said was written against her family.
“Hindi ko inaakalang aabot sa punto ng buhay ko na ako, isang Marcos, magtatanggol (sa) 1987 Constitution, isang saligang batas na isinulat laban sa aming pamilya,” Marcos said, emphasizing the irony of her position as a Marcos defending the prevailing Constitution.
