THE Senate yesterday created the sub-committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes that would spearhead discussions on proposed economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution, which Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said will kick off next week.
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, a lawyer by profession, was named as sub-committee chairperson.
“Next week mag-uumpisa na po siya sa mga hearing doon sa RBH 6. So, everything is taking its course (Next week, he [Angara] will start with the hearing on RBH 6. So, everything is taking its course),” Zubiri said in an interview, but stressed that the start of the deliberations on the proposed Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 is not a concession to the challenge issued by leaders of the House of Representatives.
“Ibababa natin ang temperature ng politika ngayon… back to work muna kami. We don’t want to answer issues on PI (people’s initiative). As far as we are concerned, moot and academic, nagsalita na ang Comelec (We just want to lower the temperature of politics… we will just buckle down to work. We don’t want to answer issues on PI. As far as we are concerned [it is] moot and academic [because] the Comelec has already spoken),” he said.
Zubiri said the Senate is banking on the words of President Marcos Jr. that he will appeal to the House and other PI proponents to stop the signature campaign.
“Sabi niya ‘I don’t think that PI is a mode to take.’ Ang sabi niya ‘We are studying the option to bringing that back to Congress and Senate and he respects the bicameralism…
And that voting should be separately…That’s a clear sign that we can proceed dito sa RBH 6. Voting separately, binanggit ng Pangulo ‘yan kagabi (He said ‘I don’t think that PI is a mode to take. He [also] said, ‘We are studying the option to bringing that back to Congress and Senate,’ and he respects bicameralism… And that voting should be done separately…
That’s a clear sign that we can proceed with RBH 6. Voting separately, he mentioned that [Tuesday night]),” he added.
Zubiri said the Senate will invite “legal luminaries” when they start discussions on RBH No. 6 to “get all their opinions on (the PI) issue.”
“But as far as we are concerned, we just want to continue working for bills that are good for the country, and these are economic bills,” he said.
Zubiri’s pronouncement on RBH No. 6 came after the House challenged senators to already act on the resolution and pass it before Congress’ Holy Week break in March.
RBH No. 6 was filed by Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara. It seeks to introduce amendments to the economic provisions relating to public services, the education sector, and advertising.
House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said the upper chamber’s adoption of its own resolution would be enough to put to rest allegations that the lower chamber is out to abolish the Senate through Charter change.
Senate deputy majority leader Joseph Victor Ejercito said RBH No. 6 was filed to counter the allegedly House-backed PI signature campaign and avert a possible constitutional crisis.
“The problem is that the signature drive for PI continued on. The agreement was not honored, that led to the political brouhaha. Hell broke loose because of this fake PI drive,” he said, adding that House members should be serious in stopping the campaign so “we can already tackle issues that are more important.”
“We cannot let our guard down unless there is a categorical statement that the PI will be halted,” he added.
‘A BOLD STEP FORWARD’
Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House is “heartened” that the Senate will finally commence hearings on RBH No. 6 next week, saying “it marks a significant step towards the much-awaited constitutional amendments.”
“As Speaker of the House of Representatives, I await with great anticipation the outcomes of these Senate deliberations. The prospect of amending and potentially easing certain restrictive provisions in the 1987 Constitution is more than a legislative exercise; it is a great stride towards realizing the aspirations of our people and unlocking the full potential of our nation,” he said.
The Speaker said Zubiri and the other senators “took a bold step forward,” adding that what the Senate did “demonstrates a united legislative front in addressing crucial changes that have the potential to shape the future of our country.”
Romualdez said the House “stands ready to collaborate and contribute to this significant legislative endeavor. We share a common goal — to ensure that any amendments to our Constitution serve the best interests of the Filipino people and lay a strong foundation for a more prosperous and equitable Philippines.”
“Asahan po ng ating mga Senador na kasama nila ang House of Representatives sa misyong ito. Handa kami na umaksyon at aprubahan sa Kamara ang mga pagbabagong ipapasok ng Senado sa ating Konstitusyon. Matagal na namin itong hinihintay (Our senators can be rest assured that the House is with them in this mission. We are ready to act and approve at the House the amendments that the Senate will introduce in our Constitution. We’ve been waiting for this for so long),” he said.
Dalipe said the House will wait for the Senate to approve RBH No. 6, especially since Zubiri has vowed to have it approved ny March “so the House will have that patience for them to transmit it to us before the Holy Week break.”
Later yesterday, Dalipe and other House leaders said that a resolution expressing support for Romualdez will be filed and adopted on Monday amid the attacks he has been drawing from some senators.
“We just had an all-member caucus because some members would like us to gather due to recent developments, including statements from the Senate. Many House members wish to express and gauge the sentiments of their colleagues. As a result, a proposal has been put forward to file a House Resolution from this august chamber. The resolution is scheduled to be filed on Monday, and we will await its submission,” Dalipe told reporters.
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales provided insights into the content of the proposed resolution, saying, “To give you an idea of the resolution… it will express unwavering solidarity and support to the leadership of the Honorable Speaker Ferdinand Martin Gonzales Romualdez.”
“It aims to uphold the integrity and honor of the House of Representatives in the face of intense assault from the Senate, a violation of the principle of inter-parliamentary courtesy and undue interference in its legislative and constituent functions,” Gonzales said.
Asked if the resolution may affect a possible ceasefire with the Senate, Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit, a leader of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), said: “With due respect to the Senate, sometimes strong statements require strong answers. So, hindi naman nakakasakit (So, it’s not hurtful), strong, yes, but that only shows how serious we take it.” — With Wendell Vigilia
