Sen. Francis 鈥淜iko鈥� Pangilinan. (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
鈥淲ill you trust Congress with charter change?鈥�
Sen. Francis 鈥淜iko鈥� Pangilinan, a member of the minority bloc and president of the Liberal Party (LP), made the remark in a statement issued on Wednesday in reaction to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who said a no-election scenario was possible.
Pangilinan made the remark in a statement issued on Wednesday after House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said a no-election (no-el) scenario was possible.
I an interview with ANC鈥檚 鈥淗eadstart,鈥� Alvarez said the 2019 midterm elections could be postponed if the proposed shift to a federal form of government succeeds in Congress this year.
Pangilinan cast doubt, however, on the idea of charter change, saying:
鈥淎fter witnessing the congressional hearings on extra-judicial killings, on Senator [Leila] De Lima鈥檚 alleged connection with drug syndicates, on the P6.4 billion BoC [Bureau of Customs] shabu smuggling scandal allegedly involving the Davao group, the impeachment of Chief Justice [Maria Lourdes] Sereno, the approval of the 1-year extension of martial law in Mindanao, the slashing of the CHR budget to P1,000, will you trust Congress with charter change?鈥�
搁贰础顿:听No-el scenario in 2019 possible 鈥� Alvarez
Alvarez said Congress migh convene this January to discuss the proposal and hold a referendum in May, coinciding with the planned barangay elections.
If the public, via referendum, agrees with the proposed shift to federalism, the Speaker said it would be better if the term of all incumbent senators would expire in 2022. /atm