Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 13) — Members of the House of Representatives would need to do “a lot of convincing” of senators if they will be pushing charter change next year, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel told reporters on Wednesday.
\”Kung sinuman may gusto na mag-amend [Whoever wants to amend the Constitution], he has a lot of convincing to do sa [in the] Senado,\” Pimentel said.
\”Cold pa rin,\” he said of the Senate’s position on amending the 1987 Constitution. \”Kaya maganda rin 2024, di niyo matatapos, 2025, people will be up for election. Twelve seats in the Senate pwede mabago ang sentiment.\”
[Translation: It’s still cold. That’s why it’s also a good plan to do it in 2024, if unfinished, 12 seats in the Senate will be up for election in 2025 and it could change the sentiment.]
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House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Tuesday said the lower chamber can focus on charter change next year, now that it has passed most of the administration’s priority bills.
“I believe 2024 will allow us again to revisit the whole issue of the Constitution,” he said. “We’d like to focus very much on the economic provisions. But even to get there, we have to look at the procedural aspects of the amendment of the Constitution.”
House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio \”Dong\” Gonzales Jr. is confident there will be progress in Cha-cha before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his third State of the Nation Address in July next year.
However, Senator Imee Marcos, the president’s sister, expressed her irritation at the fresh campaign for Cha-cha.
\”Please wag magkulit, walang may gusto niyan!\” Sen. Imee Marcos said in a text message.
[Translation: Don’t be stubborn, no one wants that!]
“Talagang sinabi na ni PBBM na hindi napapanahon kasi dapat nakatutok tayo sa hanapbuhay ng tao at ibagsak ang presyo ng bigas at iba pang bilihin at dalawang beses na ibinasura iyan, binasura iyan nang todo-todo ng Senado. Ba’t pagpipilitan, bakit gano’n?” she said in a chance interview.
[Translation: PBBM already said that it is not timely because we should focus on the livelihood of people and lower the prices of rice and other basic goods. It has been rejected twice in the Senate. Why is it still being pushed?]
RELATED: Marcos: Charter change not a priority
Pimentel said \”it’s always a good time\” to review the Philippine Constitution but noted this should have \”proper motivations\” to improve the country’s system of government.
For his part, Sen. Chiz Escudero said the specific procedure to take in amending the Constitution and the specific proposals or amendments must first be made \”clear and unequivocal\” before starting any discussion.
\”We have to be more circumspect of the timing, and then the process… is very important,\” Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva also said.
Both chambers should be involved
When asked if the House could insist on having the sole power to amend the Constitution, Pimentel said it’s not possible. He explained that both chambers of Congress must be involved in the procedure of charter change.
\”Pati kaming pabor sa changing the constitution sa Senado, na kokonti na nga lang kami, we will still be against sa kilos ng House na sila lang,\” he said.
[Translation: Even the few senators who are in favor of changing the Constitution, we will still be against that move of the House.]
Last March, the lower chamber approved Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, which called for the convening of the Senate and the House into a constitutional convention to discuss charter change. It has been stuck in limbo in the Senate since then.
Now, lawmakers are eyeing a people’s initiative as another route for charter change. A people’s initiative is one of three ways to amend the Constitution, aside from constitutional convention and constituent assembly.
Under Republic Act 6735, or the Initiative and Referendum Act, at least 12% of all registered voters must sign the petition to amend the Constitution. At least 3% of all registered voters in each legislative district must be represented in the petition.
