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Congress leaders meet to discuss Charter change
Leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate met on Wednesday to discuss Charter change. (Photo courtesy of House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas)
Leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate met on Wednesday to discuss Charter change, an issue which apparently gave rise to heated arguments between the two chambers of Congress.
Members of the two houses have been in conflict over the mode in which the 1987 Constitution can be amended. Congress may convene into a constituent assembly (con-ass) to propose specific amendments.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez insists that they should vote jointly and has even stated that the lower chamber can continue proposing revisions to the Constitution even without the senators.
Meanwhile, senators unanimously agreed to reject proposals for joint voting.
The meeting was attended by Alvarez, House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III.
Fariñas said that during the discussion, Congress leaders have agreed to work first on the proposed government structure and other constitutional provisions.
“Congressional leaders have agreed to pursue the review of the 1987 Constitution by coming up with specific models and proposals in the form of actual constitutional provisions which hopefully could muster the required number of votes for these to be presented to the people in a plebiscite,” Fariñas told media on Wednesday evening.
“Once we agree on such, we will then discuss the manner of doing it,” he added.
Fariñas stressed that the Congress has yet to decide on a timetable for Charter Change.
“We cannot obviously come up with a timetable without first agreeing on the proposed government structure, other Constitutional provisions, and the manner of proposing such,” the House majority leader said.
The revision of the 1987 is among the 17th Congress’ top priorities this year aside from the shift from a unitary to a federal form of government.
President Rodrigo Duterte has been advocating for federalism even before he was elected as the country’s leader.
