Don’t count Cha-cha out — Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte may appear to have dropped moves to amend the 1987 Constitution as part his legislative agenda, but Charter change remains a priority in the House of Representatives. 

House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez yesterday said the proposed Cha-cha is not yet dead despite its not being listed among priority measures mentioned by Duterte in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.

“I would never say it’s dead. It still is a priority (of the House), but maybe not a top priority at the moment,” Romualdez told journalists at a press conference.

Romualdez, an advocate of Cha-cha, expressed belief that although the President has not certified the measure as urgent in the 18th Congress, “anything could change.”

“If you want to change the Charter, you should start sooner,” he said.

During the SONA, Duterte did not mention his earlier initiative to rewrite the Constitution and install a federal form of government. 

In an interview with Palace reporters after the speech, the President said it was not the proper time to be discuss the matter.

Duterte said it was “good but there are certain things that you have to be very clear of.”