Senator expects Aquino to state clear priorities during Sona

SENATOR Gregorio Honasan said he expects President Benigno Aquino III to present a clear sense of his administration’s priorities during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) this coming July 23 during the opening of the last quarter of the 15th Congress.

Honasan, who was in Bacolod last Saturday for the grand reunion of the Ballesteros clan, said that government officials need to hear the national priorities from the President so that they would also have a clearer position on certain national issues.

Honasan made the statement when asked on his position about the proposals to move the forthcoming October 2013 barangay elections, as it would be expensive to hold two elections in a year. The regular local and senatorial elections are scheduled on May, 2013.

He said that he wants to know how much would really be spent so that he will know if it is true that it will be expensive.

Meanwhile, Honasan said that he supports the move of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feleciano Belmonte for Charter change (Chacha).

Honasan said that the proposal for Chacha will amend only the economic provisions of the 1987 constitution. But his stand on Chacha, he said, is that the comprehensive debates should start not only on economic provisions but should also take on some other weaker side of the constitution, like the security aspect that could be relevant to the pressing issue on the country's claims over the Scarborough Shoal that would strengthen the country’s territorial and national integrity.

He pointed out that Charter change is a long process, so the debate should start now. (Teresa D. Ellera)