Senate to tackle cha-cha next week

FILE: The Senate would resume hearings on the proposed revision of the 1987 Constitution on January 17 (Wednesday), 9 a.m., Senator Francis Pangilinan said Wednesday. (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/ Facebook)

MANILA — The Senate would resume hearings on the proposed revision of the 1987 Constitution on January 17 (Wednesday), 9 a.m., Senator Francis Pangilinan said Wednesday.

Pangilinan, chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, said that the Senate would tackle three bills on amending the Constitution namely:

• Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
• Joint Resolution No. 1 by Senator Richard Gordon
• Senate Bill No. 128 by Senator Miguel Zubiri.

Through discussions, Pangilinan said that he would also want to find out if there was really a need to amend the Constitution and the reasons for amending it or not.

Pangilinan stressed that if there was indeed a need to amend the Constitution, they should also determine which parts should be revised and find out why.

He also wanted to know if the revisions should take the constitutional assembly (con-ass) or the constitutional convention (con-con) mode.

Moreover, he said that it was important to settle once and for all if voting on the Constitution should be done by the Senate and House of Representatives jointly or separately.

He said that he also raised the question on whether Congress could pass a resolution limiting the power of the con-ass or con-con or were their powers plenary.

Expected to attend the hearing are constitution experts, members of the academe, business sector, labor, civil society, and other concerned stakeholders.