3 ex-chief justices to attend Senate Cha-cha hearing

FILE: Sen. Francis Pangilinan (Photo: Kiko Pangilinan/Facebook)

MANILA — Three former Supreme Court (SC) chief justices and a former Senate president are set to attend the Senate panel hearing on the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution on Wednesday (January 17).

These are former SC Chief Justices Reynato Puno, Hilario Davide Jr. and Artemio Panganiban and former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, said that there will be over 50 resource persons invited to the hearing.

Pangilinan, meanwhile, stressed the need to hear the wisdom of as many sectors as possible.

“No one chamber of Congress can do it alone. The changes should also come from the people,” Pangilinan said.

Other guests expected to attend are justices and former members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission, members of the academe, representatives of sectors and representatives of the Executive branch.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III earlier said that the Senate will prioritize proposed bills on amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

To date, three bills on Charter change (Cha-cha) had been filed in the Senate by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Richard Gordon and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Aside from amendments to the Constitution, Pimentel said that other priority bills include the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, the proposed Anti-Terrorism Law, the proposed National ID System Act and the proposed Universal Healthcare for All Filipinos Act. (PNA)