“NO surrender po talaga ito (There will be no surrender on this).”
On this note, Sen. Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla on Monday remained unfazed by pronouncements that he may not get the numbers needed to back his efforts to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
In an interview with Senate media, Padilla said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri never gave him any instruction to stop fulfilling his mandate as chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.
“Katunayan ang instruction po ni Senate President, tuloy-tuloy lang ako… Sa akin po ay tuloy-tuloy lang ako. Hindi ko po nakikita na parang ako pinipigilan niya (The Senate President’s instruction was to continue. I do not see any move from him to stop me),” he said.
Padilla likewise reassured his fellow senators that his efforts will center on amending seven economic provisions of the Charter and via a constituent assembly (Con-Ass), with both houses of Congress voting separately.
But Padilla also struck down suggestions that he would seek an audience with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the matter, saying doing so as chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments may give the impression that Congress is subservient to the Palace.
“Mas magandang maisulat sa kasaysayan di ako lumapit kanino man nilapit ko sa taumbayan, tinanggihan man ng Senado natalo ako pero alam ng tao pinanindigan ko position ko. Di importante ang nanalo ako pero nag-bow ako, no way (It would be better for me to bring the matter to the people and lose in the Senate while defending my position – than to bow to the Executive branch of government),” he added.
Meanwhile, Padilla said he plans to push through with his hearing on constitutional amendments in Cebu this week.
He also said he hopes to file his committee report and present it before the plenary by May, have it taken up in June or July, and wrap up matters by August so a plebiscite may be held in time with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October.
