SEVERAL leaders of the political parties in the House of Representatives are supporting the Charter Change moves of the House leadership.

This was disclosed by Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales adding that they are looking for another way to amend the 1987 Constitution and this is through People’s Initiative.

Political leaders have conducted a caucus on Wednesday, December 13, according to Gonzales.

“Kanina nag-brainstorming lang tayo regarding this matter,” he said. “Pero siyempre, ‘di naman sa amin manggagaling ‘yun … ‘Di ba, sa taong bayan ‘yan, kung gusto nila amyendahan.”

Meanwhile, during the session adjournment, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said they will tackle all proposals for charter change after its Yuletide break.

Romualdez clarified that they will focus on rewriting the constitution’s provisions limiting foreign investments in the country.

“Next year, after our yuletide break, we will focus our attention on studying and reviewing proposals that deal with restrictions blocking the entry of foreign capital and investments in the Philippines. These include deliberation on all proposed measures related to constitutional change. This Congress will champion the cause of revisiting our present constitution. A cause that is key to unlocking the vast potential of our Philippine economy,” Romualdez said.

“Gagawin nating lahat para buksan ang ating ekonomiya sa puhunan. Pag-aaralan natin ang lahat ng paraan kung paano makikinabang ang ordinaryong tao sa pag-amyenda ng konstitusyon,” he added.

Likewise, there are pending measures in the House that intended to change the political provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

These are House Bill 441 Prescribing the Order of Presidential Succession; Resolution of Both Houses #1 Convening a Constituent Assembly rewriting term limits for all officials except Senators; Resolution of Both Houses #3 Proposing Amendments to the 1987 Constitution Section 9 Article 8 on the judiciary, and Resolution of Both Houses #5 Proposing amendments to certain provisions of the 1987 constitution concerning change in the manner of electing the president and vice-president.

Resolution of Both Houses #2 and Resolution of Both Houses #4 both propose amendments to certain restrictive economic provisions of the charter.

Last March, the House approved Resolution of Both Houses 6 calling for a constitutional convention to empower Congress to regulate foreign investments in the country and House Bill 7352, which is its implementing bill but both have languished in the Senate.

On the other hand, Gonzales said they want to resolve by people’s initiative the long standing question of whether congressmen and senators have to vote together or separately.

“The sense of the House, talagang with the party leaders, they’re all amenable for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution,” Gonzales said.

“Ang tanong lang sa baba, gusto niyo ba ma-amend. No. 2, anong mode? ‘Yung people’s initiative? We will get 3-5 percent and 12 percent of the whole registered voters all over the country. Siguro, makukuha naman natin with the help of the local government unit,” he said.

He reiterated they just want to resolve this long standing because the Senate has not acted on past charter change initiatives of the House.

“Hanap tayo ng isang mode. Baka itong people’s initiative, ‘yung PI, so marami nang nag-uudyok sa baba. They are now starting to educate the masses, lalo na sa baba, para malaman nila,” he said.

“Ang tanong lang naman ay, pumapayag ba kayong amyendahan natin yung constitution, di ba pumapayag,” Gonzales added.

Gonzales said they will tackle any people’s initiative filed at the House. However, it will be up to the Commission on Elections to verify the signatures.

“Iyung kasama ko sa Kongreso, pag halimbawang andiyan na, we will deliberate on that matter and pag meron na tayong nakalap na pirma signatures of course we will file in the House of Representatives,” Gonzales said.

On the issue of Prime Minister, Gonzales denied that they plan to create the position of Prime Minister in their push to rewrite the 1987 Constitution.

“Prime Minister, wala po. Wala akong narinig na Prime Minister. Wala kaming pinag-uusapang Prime Minister,” he stressed.