CHIZ TELLS CHA-CHA PROPONENTS IN CONGRESS
'Wait for the next administration'

Senator Chiz Escudero on Friday called on partymates of President Arroyo in Congress to stand down and let talks on amending the Constitution be deferred until the next administration.

Escudero made the call as he urged the people to be vigilant against moves by allies of the President in the House of Representatives to push for a "piece-meal" change in the Charter.

The senator issued the statement as House Speaker Prospero Nograles continued to push for the approval of' resolution calling for amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

"Unless they specifically say what they want amended and how they want the Constitution amended, we cannot and should not let our guards down," Escudero, chair of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws, said.

He said any amendment in any part of the Charter at this moment could very well be a ploy to worm their way through term extensions.

"Even if Cha-Cha proponents say they are just rooting for amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution, anybody can stand along the way and call for a move to amend the very rule which made them convene. They can move to include term extension during the deliberations," Escudero explained.

"What they want us to do is close our eyes and allow what could later turn out to be the rape of the Constitution," Escudero stated.