Belmonte: Cha-cha by June 11 or forget it

MANILA (Mabuhay) – For House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, he has until June 11 to get the House of Representatives to pass his proposal for amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution, or it’s over.

In an ambush interview, Belmonte said, “it’s a big majority we need. If we can’t pass it now, I don’t see how we can pass it in the future. We’ll try our best to pass it now. I think so (now or never), we have to give it a try now.”

He believes many are supportive of his resolution, including senators. He said senators told him they can do the same in the Senate.

An amendment to the 1987 Constitution requires a three-fourths vote of all members, or about 217 congressmen. Belmonte authored Resolution of Both Houses #1 (RBH1), which seeks to append the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to constitutional limits on foreign investments.

Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora said they will not stop Belmonte from trying to muster a quorum, but that doesn’t mean they will back the measure.

So far, only Isabela Representative Rodito Albano in the minority supports the measure. Zamora said that’s because he is married to Rep. Mylene Garcia Albano – the sponsor of RBH1.

“I support the speaker in producing a quorum, but he has to produce the vote. He should not include the minority in the count… We will not do anything to obstruct the quorum… I cannot promise the speaker we will vote with him,” Zamora said.

Belmonte’s measure has been criticized for not following the three modes prescribed by the Constitution for amendments: a constitutional convention, a constituent assembly and a people’s initiative.

So long as the measure achieves the ¾ vote in the House and Senate, Belmonte said it will already be binding.

Aside from the charter change resolution, Belmonte is still hoping to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law also by June 11.(MNS)