Pichay, one of the proponents of the failed Constituent Assembly (Con-ass) in the House of Representatives, said the pro-Charter change (Cha-cha) group is confident that this time around, the Cha-cha train will reach its destination.

"The people’s initiative is still alive. The second wave of signature gathering is coming this January with the possibilities of abolishing the Senate and even party-list system," Pichay told reporters in an interview.

Those behind the people’s initiative are for the adoption of a unicameral parliamentary system that would effectively abolish the Senate. The party-list system will likewise be abolished in the proposed parliament.

According to Pichay, it would be easier this time for the Sigaw ng Bayan to push people’s initiative because although the Supreme Court (SC) had thrown out its earlier petition, the High Tribunal, however, ruled on the sufficiency of Republic Act 6735 as an enabling law to carry out people’s initiative.

"The Supreme Court has already spoken and it declared that our law is sufficient to push people’s initiative," Pichay said.

Pichay said he had learned it straight from Sigaw ng Bayan spokesman Raul Lambino that their group will start gathering fresh signatures for people’s initiative immediately after New Year’s Day.

He said Lambino told him that they target to finish the signature gathering in two weeks so a plebiscite could be held in April, 2007, in time for the May 2007 midterm elections.

Pichay made the statements despite House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles’ earlier declaration that the House majority bloc consensus is for a Yuletide Cha-cha truce.

"We will let Christmas Holiday season pass without even discussing Cha-cha. It has divided our country already," Nograles said.