House won’t wait for senators, pushes Charter change

January 22, 2018

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said the House of Representatives is now working to amend the 1987 Constitution and wouldn't wait for the Senate to join.

Alvarez abandoned the constituent assembly (Con-Ass) mode because it was not mentioned in the Constitution, explaining Article XII or Amendments or Revisions mentions “Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members” can propose Charter amendments.

“Is Con-Ass mentioned here ( in the Constitution?). Read it if Con-Ass is mentioned," said Alvarez. He added that  a constitutional convention (Con-Con), people’s initiative , and Congress upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members are the modes cited to propose amendments.

With 292 House members and 23 senators or 315 total members of Congress, 237 lawmakers will constitute the vote of three-fourths.

The amendments would allow the Constitution to shift from the present unitary form of government to a federal form, which Malacanang believes will solve deep-seated political issues.

The Senate says voting to approve amendments to the Constitution should be separate. The House disagrees.

If the 23 senators will not join,  Alvarez said he would get the vote of three-fourths of Congress or the House of Representatives and the Senate to approve proposed amendments to the Constitution and submit amendments in a plebiscite this May or next year.

"I am not saying that they (senators) should join us. They are welcome. But they refuse to join," said Alvarez. DMS