FORMER House Speaker Prospero Nograles, a known ally of Representative Gloria Arroyo (second district, Pampanga), supported the call for amendments in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
"Charter change is always a resolution filed by some congressmen every new Congress because there is a need to change many provisions of the Constitution. It is long overdue," Nograles told Sun.Star.
He issued the statement after Arroyo filed House Resolution 8, co-authored with his son Camarines Sur Representative Dato, seeking a Constitutional convention to propose amendments in the fundamental law of the land.
Arroyo said the 1987 Constitution should "give direction to the country and its people" and needs revisiting to "institute much needed socio-economic and political reforms."
Nograles and Chacha
In the 14th Congress, Nograles filed House Resolution (HR) 1109 calling for lawmakers to convene for the purpose of considering the proposal.
Among the 174 lawmakers who signed the bill were Arroyo's sons Dato and Mikey, and her brother-in-law, Iggy.
HR 1109 was filed a day after Nograles filed HR 737 seeking to amend provisions of the Constitution on foreign ownership.
Although Nograles wanted to pass Charter change under his leadership, the upper chamber was in disagreement.
Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile earlier said he will not allow the calls for Cha Cha to pass the Senate after some critics of Arroyo said that the move was to extend the term of the former President.
Nograles then said he will leave it up to the new President and the 15th Congress.
LP move
Quezon Representative and LP spokesman Erin Tanada III also filed a con-con measure in behalf of his party during the 14th Congress as a response to the resolution pushed by Lakas-Kampi members. It however failed to pass in the lower chamber.
The party mates of President Benigno Aquino III in the incoming Congress are meanwhile yet to issue their statement on Arroyo's resolution.
"For the 15th Congress, since the number of LP members increased, we will have to consult our partymates both in the House and the Senate, and also consult PNoy, before we can come out with a party position regarding GMA's con-con resolution," Tanada told Sun.Star. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)