Same dog, different collar

MANILA, Philippines—The newly-formed National Union Party (NUP), the splinter group of the Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi CMD), is proving to be the same dog with a different collar.

Nueva Ecija Rep. and NUP president Rodolfo Antonino told reporters that his party has tagged Charter change (Cha-cha) as one of its advocacies in Congress.

Lakas-Kampi CMD, even before their merger in 2009, has been the main driving force behind Cha-cha efforts in Congress since the Ramos administration and the members of NUP have apparently not wavered in their desire to amend the Constitution under a new group.

Although Malacañang does not consider Cha-cha a priority, the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms has already started debates on the mode to amend the Constitution with—constituent assembly (where congressional members would vote on the amendments) or constitutional convention (where delegates would be elected).

Antonio explained that NUP members “want our own political identity” as they pursue their policy advocacies such as Cha-cha.

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