It would also do well to mandate the wearing of face masks in other areas which are also enclosed
I have been asked if there will be a Cha-Cha or charter change this year.
My answer is “It all depends” if Senator Robin Padilla can muster the support of 18 members of the Senate to support his push for charter change of the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
And from the looks of it, with Senate President Migz Zubiri leading the opposition against charter change as not a priority of the Senate, it looks like prospects for charter change on the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution are “iffy.”
From the looks of it, Santa Banana, Padilla cannot get the support of the majority of the Senate.
Padilla’s push for charter change is for the Senate to have a Constituent Assembly or Con-Ass, which means that both chambers of Congress will convene as an assembly for charter change.
And this is what most of the senators are afraid of since the 305 members of the House or Representatives can easily outvote the Senate on the amendments to political provisions of the charter like restructuring the government into parliamentary-federal system which could result , Santa Banana, to the abolition of the Senate!
This, I believe, is the real reason why the Senators are likely against Padilla’s push for charter change.
Right now, Padilla is waiting for the completion of his committee’s report on charter change.
If signed by the majority of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, which is unlikely at the moment, the Committee report will go to the plenary for sponsorship and interpellation.
If the majority of the members of the committee will not sign the Committee Report, then it is considered dead. although maybe resurrected anytime if the majority of the members of the committee will later change their minds and sign it before the end of the 19th Congress.
Right now, from inside sources, Senators Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino may sign the Committee Report, my gulay, but that’s still the minority!
However, Senator Padilla may deliver a privilege speech and read the failed Committee report to the plenary as the Chairperson’s report.
In such a case, it would be referred to the Committee on Rules, which most likely will sit on it.
Thus, as of now, Senator Padilla’s push for charter change is “iffy” since the Senate is waiting for the resumption of sessions on May 8.
Despite the fact the House had approved in final reading its own version of charter change, it all depends now on the Senate whether or not there will be charter change on the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
Personally, I believe it’s time we amend the 1987 Constitution, which was clearly a charter upon the behest of President Cory Aquino in choosing those who would frame it.
No charter change is cast in stone that cannot be amended.
It is for this that I support charter change.
I commend Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez for all his efforts to have succeeded in having the 1987 Constitution through a hybrid Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) on the economic provisions of the charter.
It is also for this reason why I commend Senate committee chairman on Constitutional Amendments Senator Robin Padilla for pushing for the amendments of economic provisions of the charter in a Con-Ass or Constituent Assembly.
If during the deliberations on whatever method would be approved by the people in a plebiscite called for that purpose, including amendments of political provisions, why not?
After all, it will still be the people who will decide in a plebiscite called for that purpose. As I always say, “vox dei est suprema lex” (the voice of the people is the supreme law).
It is for this reason why, in my opinion, it would be unfortunate if charter change will not happen now.
If it happens now that charter change will come about, no Senate President can stop it.
Performers and Achievers
I am no longer surprised that in a recent poll rating by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation (RPMD), Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte again tops the survey among its performers and achievers among the Metro Manila Mayors.
Mayor Joy Belmonte has received the highest approval rating among local chief executives in the National Capital Region.
Results of the Feb 25 to March 8 poll released found that 94 percent of respondents in Quezon City approved of Belmonte’s performance.
Next to Belmonte were mayors Jeannie Sandoval of Malabon with 91 percent, Along Malapitan of Caloocan with 91 percent, John Rey Tiangco of Navotas with 91 percent, Emi Calixto Rubiano of Pasay with 90 percent, Benjamin Abalos Sr. of Mandaluyong with 90 percent, Vico Sotto of Pasig with 87 percent and Abby Binay of Makati with 87 percent.
Following them are Marcy Teodoro of Marikina with 85 percent, Imelda Aguilar of Las Pinas with 85 percent, Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa with 83 percent, Lani Cayetano of Taguig with 80 percent, Honey Lacuna of Manila with 80 percent, Wes Gatchalian of Valenzuela with 78 percent, Eric Olivarez of Paranaque with 78 percent, Francis Zamora of San Juan with 75 percent and Ike Ponce III of Pateros with 72 percent.
The assessment of the performance of their respective district representatives were also asked of the respondents.
Leading the list in Metro Manila were Reps. Toby Tiangco of Navotas with 92.5 percent, Camille Villar of Las Pinas with 92.3 percent and Oscar Malapitan of Caloocan with 92.1 percent.
Following them were Reps. Marvin Rillo of Quezon City’s 4th District with 88.7 percent, Marivic Co-Pilar of Quezon City’s 6th District with 88.5 percent, Boyet Gonzales II of Mandaluyong with 88.3 percent, Franz Pumaren of Quezon City’s 3rd District with 86.6 percent, Dean Asistio of Caloocan with 86.4 percent and PM Vargas of Quezon City’s 5th District with 86.2 percent.
The Metro Manila mayors and legislators’ performance ratings were based on RPMD’s “Boses ng Bayan” survey which had 10,000 randomly selected adult respondents nationwide.
The number of respondents per city was distributed proportionally based on official voting population data, according to the firm .
Cleansing the Police Force
The appointment of a new Philippine National Police Chief, Major General Benjamin Acorda from Ilocos Norte, comes at a time when the PNP, supposed to be the guardian of public order and safety and the protector of the public, is faced with violent crimes involving political personalities, and more importantly with its image tainted by high ranking police generals and colonels with drug anomalies who have been told by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos to submit their courtesy resignations to find out their alleged involvement in drug cases.
It is for this reason why the appointment of Acorda as police force chief is looked at by the people as something timely, having been a police provincial and regional director and police intelligence chief.
Acorda’s appointment is indeed timely because people must be assured by the police of their safety.
When the public loses faith and confidence in the police as their protector, in turn the people also lose faith and trust in government.
Acorda certainly knows this, since President Marcos Jr. himself has given so much faith and confidence that Acorda, his province mate, will not disappoint him.
Acorda has another job to do to “calm the waters’’ because of what has been happening to public safety and peace and order, which has in fact demoralized the rank and file of the PNP because of the alleged involvement of some high-ranking police officers in so many shenanigans in the war against drugs during the Duterte administration that led to the courtesy resignation of so many high-ranking PNP officers.
Indeed, the challenge that Acorda faces as new PNP chief is formidable.
Let’s hope so since the faith and confidence in the police by the people must be restored.
Rise of COVID-19 cases
The surge of COVID-19, while not alarming, is something to watch out for, especially in Metro Manila and the National Capital Region.
Health experts know that as a result of the holidays brought about by the Holy Week and the greater mobility of people going traveling, going to the beaches and resorts, shopping, having reunions etc, the transmission of the COVID-19 virus became inevitable, especially in enclosed areas.
It is for this reason that the Department of Transportation has mandated the wearing of face masks at the MRT-3 and at LRT 1 and 2, which are all enclosed areas.
It would also do well to mandate the wearing of face masks in other areas which are also enclosed.