BY WENDELL VIGILIA

REP. Roilo Golez (Ind., Parañaque) yesterday questioned the motive of senators led by minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. to pursue Charter Change since they have opposed it in the past.

"Since this is from Senator Pimentel, supported by 15 other senators, it really puzzles me," said Golez, House minority spokesman and a senior deputy minority leader.

Pimentel last April 28 filed Joint Senate Resolution 10 which called for the convening of Congress into a Constituent Assembly to revise the Constitution to establish a federal government.

The other signatories were Senate President Manuel Villar, majority leader Francis Pangilinan, Senate President pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Edgardo Angara, Rodolfo Biazon, Pia Cayetano, Juan Ponce Enrile, Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The Senate has opposed previous efforts to amend the Constitution, starting from the People's Initiative for Reform, Modernization and Action (Pirma) during the term of Fidel V. Ramos; the Constitutional Correction for Development (Concord) during the term of Joseph Estrada, and the People's Initiative under the present administration.

Golez said had Pimentel not authored the resolution "then I would be very, very skeptical and I would even say that this is one of the manipulative actions of Malacañang."

He said the people should carefully examine the real intent of the Cha-Cha proponents, noting that this could also be a move to "prevent one political personality to emerge as a leader" in the 2010 elections.

Golez said there is a need to examine the political leanings of the resolution's proponents, since each of them is a "potential regional premier" under a parliamentary set-up.

Under the proposal, members of the Senate will be elected by federal states while the members of the House will continue to be elected by legislative districts.

The resolution calls for the election of six senators in each of the 11 component federal states that are envisioned to be created.

In addition, nine other senators will be elected to represent overseas Filipinos. This will expand the membership of the present Senate, which has 24 members, to 75.

Congressmen will be elected by district but limited to a maximum of 350.

The resolution provides that the senators will serve for six years while the congressmen will serve for three years. The senators will be limited to two terms and congressmen, four terms.