Lawmakers on Thursday expressed optimism that the leadership of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri would be instrumental in garnering 18 votes in the Senate to pass amendments to the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution.
However, Senator Cynthia Villar said it would be difficult to get the needed 18 votes among the 24 senators to pass the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, which seeks to amend the Constitution.
Reps. Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur and Marvin Rillo of QuezonCity said at a news conference they were confident that with the vast experience of Zubiri as a lawmaker and former Majority Leader in the Senate, he could hold sway over his fellow senators.
“If there is a will, there is a way,” said Adiong, also the chair of the House Special Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation and Victims Compensation.
“Given his track record as a legislator, (Zubiri) is one of the best majority leaders that the Senate has ever produced. He has all the available techniques, and strategies to come up with this number. That he’s still there as the Senate President proves that he has the numbers to deliver,” he added.
But Villar, among the most senior senators, said: “What I know is it’s hard to get the 18 votes.”
When pressed on how her colleagues would vote on the measure, Villar refused to give a categorical answer.
“Of course, I don’t know if what they told me (on how they would vote) was true or not,” she said.
Earlier, Villar, along with Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said seven or eight senators are opposed to amending the three restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution about public utilities, schools, and advertising.
Adiong said the fact that the Senate formally adopted internal rulesand procedures on how they would handle the economic Charter amendments contained in Resolution of Both Houses 6 now pending in the Senate is an assurance of Zubiri’s commitment.
“I am still optimistic because first and foremost, SP (Zubiri) has already given his assurance to the President. Remember in one of his interviews in previous months, he claimed that he sat with the President many times including some of the senators, his colleagues,” he added.
“He is one of the authors of RBH 6. SP Migz (Zubiri), who is really a dear friend to me, SP Migz is in fact a friend to all, he is an amiable person. So, maybe he can use that, his charm, if he’s having trouble garnering votes of 18,” Adiong said of his fellow Mindanaoan.
Rillo agreed with Adiong, saying he has nothing but high respect for Zubiri.
Mustering 18 votes in the Senate to pass RBH No. 6 will be a test of leadership for Zubiri, said the Quezon City lawmaker.
“Now it is a challenge to his leadership because this time, now that the efforts to amend Charter Change are for the people. More jobs, more business investors, lowering the inflation,” Rillo said.
“Now, it is a big challenge to the leadership of our Senate President that if they are truly for the people, they would do their part because as we have said, we have concentrated more on the economic provisions,” he added.
For Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, it is not impossible for Zubiri if real service to the Filipino people is on the line.
“We believe that it’s just a matter of time for the Senate to embrace the real change that our country needs. It might be a test of his leadership on how he can bring to the people the discussion on the real intent of economic Cha-cha.”
Amid the renewed assurance of Zubiri that there will be safety nets to guarantee that the political provisions would not be touched, Villar has maintained her doubts.
She asserted that Cha-cha would open the floodgates of tinkering with the Constitution. Only eight votes are needed to junk the Charter change move.
Senator Sonny Angara, who leads the panel hearing RBH 6, remains confident the anti-Cha-cha senators will change their minds as they hear views and arguments on the matter.