MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday made it clear that he would "absolutely not" back the people's initiative (PI), which seeks to modify the 1987 Constitution to allow a joint vote in Congress.

"A people's initiative for a unified Congress vote, absolutely not," said Escudero during a DZRH interview.

Escudero, a known critic of Charter Change (Cha-cha), voiced his opinion that revising the economic clauses of the 1987 Constitution was not a top concern for the present government.

Instead, the newly installed Senate chief urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to convene the Judicial Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELACC) to tackle pending questions on the Public Service Act.

"What can grow [our economy] are the public utilities that we have also opened. We have already passed laws related to that. However, it's still pending in the Supreme Court," the senator said in Filipino.

Escudero was referring to Republic Act (RA) 11659, a modification to the Public Service Act. This legislation lifts the 40 percent limit on foreign ownership in sectors like telecommunications, airports, railways, and airlines. The bill was signed into law by then-president Rodrigo Duterte in May 2022.

Nonetheless, there are unresolved issues concerning RA 11659 at the Supreme Court.

Escudero said that the President held the authority to call for the convening of the JELACC to identify and compile a list of pending cases that the executive and legislative branches aimed to address.

RBH 6, introduced by former Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri, suggests modifications to Articles XII, XIV, and XVI of the 1987 Constitution, focusing on public services, education, and advertising.

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