PDP-LABAN campaign rally in Cebu (File photo)
MANILA – The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) has not yet decided whether to support or not the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 1 that Senator Robinhood Padilla is pushing to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, Senator Francis Tolentino clarified on Thursday.
Tolentino did not mention the venue but said the party will hold a meeting on March 21 which will also be attended by the four PDP-LABAN senators.
"Wala pa po. Kasi sa March 21 pa magpupulong, limang araw pa mula ngayon. Siguro po yung mga congressman, mga senador, mga gobernador para pag-usapan yun (Not yet, because we still have to meet on March 21, that's five days from now. Maybe the congressmen, senators, and governors will discuss about it)," he said in an ambush interview after attending the 2nd Klabarzon town hall meeting held in Calamba City, Laguna province.
Together with Tolentino and Padilla, the other PDP-LABAN senators are Bong Go and Ronald Dela Rosa.
In a previous interview, Padilla said there are four to five senators who would likely support the measure.
However, Dela Rosa jokingly told reporters on Wednesday that the number still might drop.
"Ganoon naman talaga ang takbo dito sa Senado eh. Ganoon kami ka-close. Nag-si-sway yung vote towards the majority. Kung saan yung mas marami, doon sumasama (That's how Senate works. That's how close we are. The vote sways towards the majority. We tend to go with the side that has more votes)," he said.
In an interview after aiding fire victims in Taytay town, Rizal province on Wednesday, Go reiterated that if the proposal to amend the Constitution would come to a vote, he would consider the interest of the Filipino people and the poor.
“Hindi po dapat ang pulitiko ang makikinabang kung saka-sakali mang gagalawin ang Konstitusyon (Politicians should not be the one to benefit if the Constitution will be amended),” Go said.
Acknowledging that the 1987 Constitution may need to be revisited to adapt to the modern times, Go said there are other ways to improve the economy without any amendments.
“Sa ngayon naman po, pwede naman tayong magpasa ng mga batas, mga bills na makakatulong sa ating ekonomiya na hindi po kailangang buksan, buklatin ang Konstitusyon (We can still pass laws, bills that can help our economy without opening the Constitution),” he said.
Padilla on Thursday wrapped up the third and last public hearing on the proposed measure held in Cebu City reiterating that he is duty-bound to pursue it despite criticisms from some sectors.
He also stood his ground on the need to amend the Constitution's economic provisions saying the current Charter is one of the most restrictive in allowing Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) -- making the Philippines an economic laggard in Asia. (PNA)
