House urges Senate anew on con-ass to discuss Cha-cha

The House of Representatives has renewed its call on the Senate for a constituent assembly (con-ass) to tackle proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Albee Benitez said in an interview on Unang Balita on Wednesday that a message was sent to Senate and communications were opened with Senator Migz Zubiri regarding their request.

"Ang sabi po ay pag-uusapan nila sa majority caucus ngayon at babalikan kami. Hanggang ngayon naghihintay kami kung ano ang magiging pasya ng Senado," Benitez said.

Members of the House recently attempted to use President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address (SONA) to convene into con-ass to propose Charter change (Cha-cha).

But Senate President Vicente Sotto III threatened to adjourn the Senate session should the House insists on con-ass.

If Senate refuses anew, Benitez said, "Rerespetuhin po natin yung posisyon nila kung sabihin nila na voting separately. Kung ganun po ang magiging kundisyon para kami ay mag-meet as constituent assembly, e tatanggapin po namin 'yan."

Should it push through, the recommendations made by the Consultative Committee (con-com) on the draft for a Federal charter will be discussed.

The 2019 mid-term elections, as per new House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's remarks, will also push through as planned.

Critics, including academics and heads of universities, have expressed opposition to amending the 1987 Constitution through con-ass as doing so would exclude Filipinos "from all walks of life" in deliberating government reforms.

Progressive solons have claimed that Filipinos find con-ass an unacceptable way to Cha-cha as shown  by recent public surveys of the proposed shift to federalism.

There are three ways provided in the 987 Constitution to do Cha-cha, namely:

• con-ass, through which only members of Congress have the power to choose the changes that will be made to the Charter;
• constitutional convention (con-con), in which Filipinos will select the people who will amend the Charter; and
• "People's Initiative," which involves a petition of at least 12 percent of the total number of registered voters.

The last method however, can only be used for minor amendments and not major revisions such as changing the length of terms of government officials, which is one of the proposed amendments to the Charter. —Rie Takumi/LBG, GMA News