Palace nixes ‘no-el’ scenario claims amid push for Cha-Cha

Malacañang on Sunday dismissed as baseless a youth lawmaker’s claim that the passage of the pending proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution will pave the way for a no-election (no-el) scenario next year.

In an interview over state-run dzRB radio, Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 (RBH 1), which the House of Representatives approved on second reading last week, only seeks to make changes to the economic provisions in the Constitution.

“[H]indi naman po diyan kasali ‘yung mga political issues,” Coloma said of RBH 1. Kaya’t sa tingin natin ay walang batayan ang mga dudang naipahayag sa umano’y ‘no election’ scenario.”

In a statement, party-list Rep. Terry Ridon warned that the renewed push for Charter Change (Cha-Cha) might lead to a “no-el” scenario, especially in light of the Commission on Election’s difficulty in preparing for the coming national polls.

“It’s not over unil it’s over. With the ruling Liberal Party restless with what the 2016 elections may bring, the renewed push for Charter change may serve as their trump card. The warning signs of a no-el scenario are all present now: bungled election preparations and a congressional initiative to open the Constitution to revisions,” he said.

“While RHB 1 seeks to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, there is no stopping administration stalwarts in the House to sneak in political Cha-Cha, otherwise known as term extension,” he added.

But House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said a “no-el” scenario in unlikely since the Senate will not agree to amending the political provisions in the Constitution because of public sentiment [against] Cha-Cha, which might affect the chances of winning of those who are planning to run for higher office.

Moreover, he said senators will not agree to shift to a unicameral form of legislature because such change would mean the dissolution of the Senate.

RBH 1 seeks to make changes to certain economic provisions in the Constitution on to the foreign ownership of land and businesses by inserting the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to indicate that the current restrictions will remain in place until Congress acts to amend them.

In particular, the resolution seeks to amend the following articles of the Constitution: