Senate to start Cha-cha debates next year

MANILA, Philippines - Senators will heed President Duterte’s call for speedier action on proposals to amend the Constitution to pave the way for a federal form of government, but will oppose any attempt to abolish the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said he sees the chamber starting discussions on Charter change, particularly on proposals for a shift to a federal form of government, early next year.

He said he expects his colleagues to engage one another in heated debates on the issue.

“What we can do is to either pass a resolution convening a constituent assembly (con-ass) or pass a law for a constitutional convention (con-con),” Sotto said in a telephone interview.

Duterte on Saturday said he is willing to step down from office as soon as the federal form of government is in place. He said such a form of government would allow regions to grow faster.

“I give you my word, if the framework is already there, I will resign to give way to the new president,” Duterte said.

Under a con-ass both the Senate and the House of Representatives convene as one body to write amendments to the Constitution. This mode is cheaper and is more convenient for proposing amendments.

A con-con is composed of elected delegates representing congressional districts and various sectors who will convene as a separate body to write the amendments.

The con-con is expected to cost billions and its life will depend on how long the delegates will take to finish their work. Supporters, however, believe the con-con is less susceptible to influence by political parties.

There are several bills pending before the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, chaired by Sen. Franklin Drilon, on Charter change.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III is also pushing for the federal system but has vowed to defend the chamber from moves to have it abolished.

He stressed the Senate would remain a “political firmament” even in a federal Philippines.

“I assure you that although I am very happy to be remembered as the Centennial Senate President, I do not want to be remembered as the last Senate President,” Pimentel said in his speech at the 100th anniversary celebration of the chamber last month.

Sotto said the con-ass resolution could be easily approved in the Senate if it would be stated in the measure that both chambers of Congress would be voting separately once the body is convened.

The Constitution is silent on whether the Senate and the House should vote separately or jointly in a con-ass. Senators fear congressmen, who number nearly 300, would outvote them.

There are proposals in the House for a federal-parliamentary form of government where there will only be one legislature. “The bicameral system is appropriate for our country,” Sotto said.

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito said a federal form of government must be clearly explained to Filipinos since it is a new idea for them. “If ever, massive information campaign has to start now,” Ejercito said.

For Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, amending the Constitution to set the stage for federalism should be done through con-con.

“There is definitely less resistance to, and more support for, a constitutional convention in the House as well as in the Senate. If we want Charter reforms to succeed, we have to do it right. We have to learn the lessons of the past,” Atienza said.

“The people are entitled to elect a new set of representatives to propose improvements to the Constitution,” Atienza, who is also the senior deputy minority leader of the House opposition bloc, pointed out.

“We in Congress were not specifically selected by the people to tamper with and mess around with the Constitution. We were chosen as district and party-list representatives mainly to pass laws,” he pointed out.

Deputy Speaker Gwen Garcia has moved for a con-ass through a resolution filed with the House committee on constitutional amendments. Reps. Albee Benitez of Negros Occidental and Vicente Veloso of Leyte endorsed the resolution.

The committee led by southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado approved the resolution last Oct. 19 after a 32-7 vote with three abstentions.

“The results of the voting show that the committee approves the concurrent resolution calling Congress as a constituent assembly for purposes of revising the Constitution,” Mercado announced. – With Delon Porcalla