Zubiri admits RBH6 a 'big challenge' due to 'trust issues'

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Zubiri admits RBH6 a 'big challenge' due to 'trust issues'

Sherrie Ann Torres,

ABS-CBN News

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Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. HandoutSenate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. Handout

MANILA -- Ensuring the passage of Resolution of Both Houses number 6, which aims to amend certain economic provisions in the Constitution is a "challenge," one of its main authors admitted Wednesday.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, one of the authors of RBH6, told reporters in a news briefing: "It's a challenge, it's a big challenge kasi yun nga yung, I think yung away ng mga kaibigan natin sa House (of Representatives) dito sa mga kaibigan natin sa senado isang factor din po yan kasi nagkakaroon nga ng trust issues."

The RBH6 authors are Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Senator Sonny Angara, and Zubiri.

For RBH6 to hurdle the Senate, the proposed measure would need ¾ votes or 18 of its 24 members.

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Aside from the trust issue that discussions will only really focus on economic amendments, there are senators like Senator Cynthia Villar who remain unconvinced that amending the Constitution is necessary at this time, Zubiri admitted.

Villar also believes that opening an economic chacha discussion will be eventually flooded by political discussions, he said.

There are also questions on how they will really tackle RBH6, he added.

"Kasi hindi lahat sold out. So, but I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm not. There's still in the rein of possibilities we could still get 3/4 votes, 18 signatures or 18 votes but at this point in time it's a challenge so we work on the challenge one step at a time," Zubiri said.

"But the commitment was pag-usapan po ito, pagdebatehan para malaman ng taumbayan ano talagang mga issues na to pagdating sa RBH6. So we're complying with our commitment na pagdebatehan po yan sa committee level and the discussions with the stakeholders. So pagdating po ng panahon na sa botohan na ay ibang usapan po yan , we will have to make our case to our colleagues na this is necessary," he added.

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Still, Zubiri assured the public that there are only "few" senators who share those views.

"Kasi there's still a majority in the Senate, I think, that believe that economic provisions should be amended, a majority but there's not enough for 3/4. Now those concerns of some, are because nga it might be a trap, 'di ba, it might be a trap for voting as one," Zubiri explained.

Zubiri's pronouncements were in response to a number of senators' statements claiming that there are at least seven senators who will vote against RBH6.

Seven votes are enough to stall RBH6 in the Senate.

Aside from the fear of sudden political inclusions in the cha-cha, Zubiri also shared the concerns of Senator Chiz Esudero.

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"Until we resolve the process, until I resolve the issue of for example yung rules, guiding us... on the process... kailangan ko munang ayusin tong mga issues para hindi tayo inuutusan ng outside forces. Yan ang mahalaga sa kanya (Senator Chiz Escudero)," Zubiri said.

Senator Imee Marcos, in another interview, maintained her opposition to RBH6.

"May hearing pa ako sa PI (people's initiative), may hearing pa si Senator Angara (sa RBH6). Ang instinct ko, kung tuluy-tuloy nag anito, mukhang napakalabo naman," she said.

"Gusto ko kung pagu-usapan magdebate tayo, mag-argumento tayo. Kumpletuhin natin ang dapat pag-usapan, at doon magsimula. Hindi yung kunwari ito,  tapos magi-imbento ng kung ano-anong listahan, tapos magsisingit ng ganyan. Ayoko ng ganyan," Marcos told reporters, Wednesday.

ZUBIRI'S APPEAL TO CONGRESSMEN

Zubiri believes distrust about the economic charter change will die down if both chambers will refrain from stirring the discussion with questionable agenda.

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And amid this challenge in the Senate, Zubiri also appealed to congressmen to continue to respect the ongoing "ceasefire" between senators and congressmen.

"That's why we're appealing to our colleagues in the HOR, let's slow down on the rhetoric against each other, kasi it's unnecessary noise, hindi naman po kailangan nyan... I think we should work together for the common good of the country rather than burning bridges," he said.

Zubiri also said that quarters funding social media trolls to attack the Senate should stop.

The Senate, he said, is already back to its regular programming, with focus mainly on lawmaking and committee hearings.

ENTER THE PRESIDENT 

RBH6 was the Senate's response to the President's stand on the need to relax the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution, on the belief that that will pave the way for a better investment opportunity in the country and eventually, the entry foreign investors

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But while saying that he will continue to convince his colleagues to support RBH6, he will not force any of them, the Senate leader said.

"We practice one man, one vote here, or one person one vote. Hindi porket inutos ko sa kanila gagawin nila. Alam mo pag inutusan ko sila gawin yan mawawala talaga ako as Senate President maniwala kayo sa akin. I will no longer have the trust and confidence of more than 14 senators," he said.

The President has been informed about the RBH 6's standing in the Senate, he said, as he clarified that he did not ask the Chief Executive to help him convince the senators.

"I didn't ask his (President) help... Ang binanggit ko lang kay Presidente it may be challenging kasi nga marami may mga kasamahan po tayo na ayaw talaga nila ng charter change... Wala po tayong hininging tulong sa kanya because it's more an independent issue by congress and the Senate."

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