Lacson wants Senate to constitute as ConAss, separate from House

Senator Panfilo Lacson will file a resolution next week that would constitute the Senate as a separate constituent assembly (ConAss) to ensure that the upper chamber is not rendered irrelevant in amending the Constitution.

In a press briefing Thursday, Lacson said it would be better to constitute the Senate as a ConAss, separate from the House of Representatives. He said the two chambers can then reconcile any conflicting provisions in a bicameral committee.

“Papayag ba yung Senado na papasok sa joint session with the lower House knowing 24 lang ang senador at 300 ang congressmen at [hindi sigurado] kung papaano ico-compute ang three-fourths [vote] of all members?” Lacson said.

“Ano pang saysay ng Senado? Wala kaming boses doon. Aasa na lang kami, tatango at iiling doon, hindi magma-matter,” he added.

Lacson said the 1987 Constitution is “silent” on whether the Senate and the House of Representatives should meet in joint session when amending the Charter, and on the issue of voting, whether jointly or separately.

The eyed resolution will run counter to the resolution to be filed by Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III this week calling for a ConAss for the purpose of revising the Constitution and to study the adoption of a federal form of government.

Lacson said he hopes to get the support of his colleagues, especially that some of them have said that they will not agree to a joint voting.

“Base sa pahayag ng aking mga kasamahan, talagang di nila matatanggap na kakainin kami ng House of Representatives pagdating sa proposals sa pag-amend sa Constitution. I’m hopeful magkakaroon ako ng suporta kung ganoon ifa-file ko na resolution,” Lacson said. — MDM, GMA News