(NI NOEL ABUEL)

MISTULANG ibinaon na sa lupa ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang kontrobersyal na Charter Change (Cha-cha) at federalism na maipatupad pa sa mga susunod na taon.

Sinabi ni Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon na patunay ito nang hindi banggitin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa kanyang ikaapat na State of the Nation-Address (SONA).

“What’s more telling in the President’s speech is not what he said but what he did not say. That speaks volumes,” sabi ni Drilon.

“For me, the non-inclusion of federalism indicates that the Cha-cha was laid to rest yesterday. The SONA became Cha-cha’s ‘final resting place,'” paliwanag pa ni Drilon.

Nagbabala pa ito sa mga grupong nagsusulong na matalakay ito sa 18th Congress na magdalawang-isip dahil sa siguradong hindi ito mangyayari.

“Hence, those who have plans to revive it this 18th Congress should better think twice. It will be an exercise in futility,” ani Drilon.

Magugunitang sinabi ni House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano na itutulak nito ang panukalang pagpapalawig sa termino ng mga mambabatas.

Samantala, kung isinaisantabi naman aniya ni Duterte ang Chacha at federalism ay binigyan diin naman ng Pangulo na buhayin ang parusang kamatayan sa mga mapapatunayang sangkot sa illegal na droga.

Makakaasa aniya ang Pangulo na susuportahan ng minority group sa Senado ang nais nito para sa mga mahihirap subalit hindi ang death penalty.

“As I said before, it may appear as an uphill battle, but we are more than prepared to oppose it. We do not agree that death penalty is the solution to our illegal drugs and corruption problems. Death penalty is anti poor,” sabi ni Drilon.

“We have a very weak justice system that is very prone to error. What we need to do is to strengthen our justice system and show the people that our laws are working,” giit nito.