Senate won’t be pressured by House

FILE: Senator Bam Aquino (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — The Senate will not be pressured by the House of Representatives despite the threat of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that it will push through as a constituent assembly (con-ass) to amend the 1987 Constitution even without the participation of the upper chamber, a senator said Friday.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said the Senate, as an independent institution, will not be pressured noting that Charter change should go through “the right process.”

“Senate believes that this is a critical reform that must go through the right process,” Aquino said in a press statement noting that the Senate will not give in to the House’s timetable.

Aquino said the Senate will assure that there will be a massive information dissemination to educate the public about Charter change.

The Senate, he said, will also make it a point to allow the public to participate in discussions, debates and crafting of the necessary amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

“It is our duty to assure that all processes that we need to go through will be for the people’s interest and not just for political interest,” Aquino said.

He earlier stressed the need for trust-building measures, including the passage of an anti-dynasty law, before amending the Charter.

It may be recalled that the House approved Resolution No. 9, which seeks to convene Congress into a con-ass that will introduce changes in the charter by voting jointly.

The Senate, however, has taken a collective stance to vote separately.
Not a magic pill

Senator Grace Poe, for her part, reminded the House that their efforts to rush the shift to federalism should not be seen as a cure-all for the country’s problems.

“Before we amend our Constitution, we need to determine what it is we want to achieve. Federalism is not a “magic pill” to address all of our country’s problems,” Poe said in a separate statement.

Poe explained that to strengthen local autonomy, some issues are better addressed through amending the Local Government Code.

“We need stronger institutions, not strongmen. We should enact the Freedom of Information and Anti-Dynasty bills in order to ensure meaningful participation of people in government, with or without Federalism,” she added.

Poe also urged a review of the economic provisions of the Constitution to encourage more investments to achieve economic growth.
It takes two to cha-cha

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, meanwhile, said that the House should not arrogate itself as having “the far more important job” of amending the Constitution.

“If two bodies are needed to pass a bill changing the name of a barangay, then how can one house arrogate upon itself the far more important job of changing the basic law of the land?” Recto said.

“It takes two to Cha-Cha. Going solo is shadow dancing. Or going up the boxing ring for the 12 full rounds with no opponent and then triumphantly declaring yourself winner by unanimous decision,” he added.

Recto explained that the three-fourths voting formula to be exercised by one chamber alone is wrong because the Constitution speaks of a bicameral legislature.

“There are ways of amending the Charter other than a dubious recourse that violates the Charter itself,” Recto said.