On Thursday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte is not talking to his Cabinet about charter change, after government leaders criticized a supposed push to amend the constitution despite the coronavirus pandemic.
“Wala namang binabanggit si Pangulo regarding charter change. It’s not something that he’s talked about or spoken to anyone of us about,” said Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.
[The President has mentioned nothing regarding charter change.]
The interior department said over the weekend that 1,488 municipal mayors expressed support for constitutional reforms.
“If the local governments have some concerns or issues or mayroon silang hinihingi sa (they are asking something from the) DILG, then DILG necessarily has to process whatever request or recommendation that their stakeholders have,” Nograles said.
However, the proposed charter change is “within the realm really of Congress,” he added.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday said constitutional amendments is “not listed” among the Senate’s priorities.
