House speaker files Cha-cha resolution

MANILA, Philippines - Fifteenth Congress House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has filed a resolution on Tuesday seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Belmonte, who is expected to regain his position as House Speaker, filed House Joint Resolution No. 1, which proposes amendments to the economic provisions of the charter, a television report said.

The resolution would allow Congress to relax constitutional restrictions on foreign investments by mere legislation instead of a blanket amendment of the constitution, according to the report.

The proposed amendments cover the charter's economic provisions, particluarly those on national economy and patrimony, land ownership and business ownership including mass media.

Belmonte had said amendments to the restrictive economic provisions are necessary to attract investments to the Philippines.

Related story: Speaker to file Cha-cha resolution

“My idea is not to change (the economic provisions) just for the sake of changing. We have so many resources that remain untapped unless we are able to fully develop them,” the earlier report quoted Belmonte as saying.

The lawmaker is a known ally of President Benigno Aquino III, who had expressed his opposition to changing the economic provisions of the Constitution, saying they are "not detriments to getting foreign investments" in the country.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she doesn't know if the President and Belmonte have already discussed the issue in recent weeks.

She added that there seems no indication that Belmonte's bid to amend the Constitution is a hindrance to the passage of Aquino's priority bills in the 16th Congress.

"The position of the Speaker has always been made public such that he supports it," Valte said. "Wala naman po tayong nakitang pagbabago, or kahit nung dati pa hong hayag na ang posisyon ni Speaker Belmonte dito at hayag ang posisyon ng Pangulong Aquino, parang hindi rin naman po siya naging balakid."

Senator Franklin Drilon, another close ally of Aquino and the man considered to be the next Senate President, had also argued that any charter change proposal from now until 2016 will be futile.

He said there is always doubt that a President wants to extend his term when he touches Cha-cha during his last three years in power.

But despite Aquino's opposition, some lawmakers have already expressed their support for the proposal to amend the Constitution.

Related stories: Aquino bucks new Cha-Cha bid and Solons still support Cha-cha bid despite Aquino's opposition