Reps Atienza, Castro: Passage of House federal charter draft rushed

House lawmakers on Thursday said that the House of Representatives' approval of its version of the proposed draft of the federal charter was "rushed."

"I believe the process that they're following is not correct. [Consultative committee chairman Reynato Puno] disagrees with it. Congressmen just voted on it simply because it was being rushed. Ang sabi ko nga hindi ganito ang paraan ng paggawa ng bagong Saligang Batas," Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza said in an interview on ANC. 

"That's the question I'm asking on the floor, 'Why are you pushing this measure today?' Why don't we allow a longer discussion. You should allow a lengthy interpellation. Kung abutin tayo ng isang taon, so be it," he added.

He admitted that he favors Charter change (Cha-cha), but opposes the manner how it was being done at the House.

Atienza emphasized that the sentiments of the public should be considered in revising the Constitution, saying that having a Constitutional Convention (Con-con) is the correct way of doing it.

"I urged chairman Puno and all of us who believe that this is not the right way of changing it... let us have a Constitutional Convention composed of delegates elected for the purpose of changing the Constitution. Ako gusto ko ang taong-bayan ang ating konsultahin.

Voting 224-22-3, the House approved Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 15, principally authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which seeks a shift to a federal form of government.

On the other hand, ACT-Teachers party-list Representative France Castro shared Atienza's sentiment over the "hasty passage" of the House's draft Charter, claiming that lawmakers who favor it have personal motives, especially that the said version will remove term limits of lawmakers.

"It was rushed kasi may mga maginterpellate pa nga eh pero pinigilan 'yung paginterpellate. 'Yun ang nangyari," Castro said.

"Tingin namin may personal interest ito. Unang una kaming mga congressman mismo 'yung gustong mapalawig 'yung term... 'yung term limits from LGU (local government unit) positions at senators, no term limits na 'yun," she added.

Atienza, however, expressed confidence that senators would not support the lower chamber's version.

"I am happy that we have Senate this time. Normally, I believe in a unicameral system but in cases like this, we need a saner, deliberate, slow-thinking, debating body like the Senate," Atienza said.

"Kausap ko nga sila kahapon, many of them sagot sa akin ng lahat, 'Wag ka magalala Lito, wala na 'yan. Hindi namin pag-uusapan 'yan," he added. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News