Lawmakers: Congress is co-equal branch, not Palace’s rubber stamp

The Plenary Hall, House of Representatives Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City
(Photo by Malacañang Photo Bureau/Robert Viñas)

MANILA – The House Independent Bloc urged lawmakers to pass the proposed income tax cuts, asserting that the Congress was not the Malacañang’s ‘rubber stamp’ and had power to override a presidential veto should the President turn down the measure.

It can be noted that President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III repeatedly opposed the income tax cuts, regarding it as ‘fiscally irresponsible’ and only a ‘pogi bill.’

House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. then disclosed that the bill was stricken off the House of Representatives’ priority agenda. Although lawmakers could still pursue it, the House leadership would rather spend the remaining months of the year ‘on other things that are doable and desirable.’

Wanting to pursue the measure, Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez pointed out the gains of reducing tax rates and called on independent lawmakers to pass the bill.

“I appeal to the House leadership and my colleagues to continue working for the passage of the proposed tax cuts because Congress has the power to override a presidential veto. Tayo po ang tinig ng taumbayan (We are the voice of the people),” Romualdez said in a Manila Bulletin report.

The lawmaker then cited Article VI, Section 27 of the Constitution which stated that the Congress – the House and the Senate – can override a presidential veto when two-thirds of all the members of each chamber agree to enact a bill into a law.

“This move would show that Congress is a co-equal branch and not Malacañang’s rubber stamp… We can show our concern for our workers if we pass the measure and stand by it until it reaches presidential veto,” he added.

1-BAP party-list Representative Silvestre Bello III backed Romualdez and urged the Congress not to become the Palace’s ‘extension office, stressing their power to override a veto.

“Even assuming that the President has already manifested his opposition to this proposal, we can override his veto. If he vetoes it, I challenge him to face the people. We can override him if members of Congress are sincere,” Bello said in the same report.

“We have to show our teeth.  We are becoming the rubber stamp of the Office of the President We’re turning out to be Malacañang’s extension office. If Aquino doesn’t like it, we will no longer pass the measure even if we want to?” he added.