MANILA, Philippines – Balewala lang ang mga pledges na nakamit ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa kanyang mga biyahe sa ibang bansa kung hindi aamyendahan ang economic provisions ng 1987 Constitution ayon kay Senador Robin Padilla nitong Lunes, Pebrero 13.
Inilabas ni Padilla na siyang chairman ng Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, ang pahayag na ito makaraang sabihin ni Marcos na hindi niya prayoridad ang Charter change.
“I have heard from past presidents that they are not prioritizing amending the Constitution, particularly its economic provisions. It is sad because if we do not make the needed changes to the Charter’s economic provisions, ordinary Filipinos will not feel the benefits of progress for our Motherland, or of improvements in their lot in life,” ani Padilla.
“The Foreign Direct Investments that we badly need cannot come true without the proper provisions from our Constitution. And most of the pledges by foreign investors from our leaders’ foreign trips will not materialize,” dagdag pa niya.
Sa kabila ng hindi pahayag ng Pangulo at pagtutol ng iba pang mga senador pra suportahan ang Charter change, sinabi ni Padilla na magsasagawa pa rin ng mga pagdinig para sa naturang hakbang na baguhin ang Konstitusyon.
“As the President’s senatorial candidate in UniTeam, I support all his priority legislation. That said, I will pursue my own advocacies, with or without the President’s support, because that is my obligation to the people – and I will stay the course in the Senate, as part of our democracy,” anang senador.
“Whether or not my fellow senators support my advocacy, it is important that the people know why our growth as a nation has been held back – and what must be done to address this,” pagpapatuloy niya.
Noong nakaraang Miyerkules, Pebrero 8 ay inihain ni Padilla ang Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 3 na naglalayong amyendahan ang economic provisions ng 1987 Constitution sa pamamagitan ng Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass).
Kasabay ng paghahain ng resolusyon, sinabi ni Padilla na dapat na itong amyendahan “to allow foreign businesses to directly invest in a more conducive landscape” at “to accelerate economic growth and fulfill its international commitment.”
Makaraan ang paghahain ng naturang hakbang, tatlong senior senators kaagad ang nagpahayag ng kanilang pagtutol sa panukalang charter ammendments. RNT/JGC
