‘Only fools don’t change minds on Cha-cha’

MANILA, Philippines - A leading proponent of Charter change (Cha-cha) to allow President Aquino to have another term in office chided yesterday his colleagues in the Liberal Party (LP) who are opposing political Cha-cha, saying “only fools don’t change their minds.”

Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice said he believes the LP would not come up with a party stand on amending the Constitution to lift term limits, but he would persuade party House members on the need to continue reforms.

Earlier, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. led LP stalwarts in the House in rejecting moves to lift term limits.

They said the chamber should just focus on easing restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution to boost investments and generate jobs.

Despite admitting openness to amending the Constitution to allow him to seek a second term, Aquino has not supported economic Cha-cha since Senate and House leaders pushed it in 2011.

Erice said he would file his resolution next week to allow the president and vice president to serve for four years with one possible reelection.

Asked how he would deal with LP lawmakers opposing his proposal, he said: “I’m just trying to generate debate on giving another term to the President and determine the sentiments of the people.” 

He noted that last year, the LP did not have a stand on postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan elections but later backed it, which led to its postponement.

He said he also expects the party to eventually make a stand on Cha-cha.

Nationwide survey

Erice disclosed that he had commissioned a nationwide survey to ask Filipinos whether they want to extend Aquino’s term.

He said the poll is expected to be completed next week and is being done by a “reputable survey outfit.”

However, he did not disclose the financier of the survey, which usually costs millions of pesos, or say how the questions were phrased.

He said it has the “usual sample size of 1,200 to 1,800.”

Erice said if the poll showed overwhelming results in favor of term extension, it should convince Aquino to give his all-out support for Cha-cha.