Senators nix Palace exec's suggestion of Cha-cha dialogue with House

MANILA, Philippines - Three senators on Monday nixed the suggestion of Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio for the Senate and House of Representatives to hold an inter-chamber dialogue to resolve their conflict on the mode of amending the 1987 Constitution. In a text message to GMANews.TV, Senator Francis Pangilinan said he does not see the urgency of having a dialogue with the House at this time, saying Charter change should only be pursued after 2010. "We can (have a) dialogue on Cha-cha at a later time. Perhaps the dialogue can be undertaken sometime next year at the earliest. Cha-cha can wait. Now isn't the time," Pangilinan said. "And this administration should not be the initiator of Cha-cha," Pangilinan added. Although supporting the conduct of a dialogue between House and Senate leaders, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr said Claudio's suggestion only shows Malacanang's intention in pursuing Cha-cha. "Malacanang's hand, like its heart, is tainted with hidden self-serving evil motives. It would be better if it gives free hand to the House leaders and the senators to do our thing," Pimentel said. In an earlier statement, Pimentel said a series of dialogue would be an appropriate mechanism for hastening the resolution of conflicts between the two chambers of Congress, and among the senators and congressmen themselves. "That is a good first step. It takes two to tango, especially on constitutional revisions," Pimentel said. He said through dialogues the two houses will be able to discuss whether the Charter should be amended through a Constituent Assembly or a Constitutional Convention and the issue of whether the Senate and House should vote jointly or separately on amendments in case the Con-ass option is chosen. He said unless the Senate and House will pursue a common effort to iron out these differences, he said the lawmakers will just be quarreling and debating endlessly over these points of controversy without accomplishing anything. Through these bicameral talks, Pimentel said the senators will be able to fully present to the House members the arguments to refute their proposition that the House can initiate amendments to the Constitution even without participation of the Senate. "The initiative of the House to amend the Constitution by themselves will not prosper. Since Congress is composed of two chambers, one cannot act on the amendment by itself," Pimentel said. For his part, Senator Francis Escudero said he would be amenable to the conduct of dialogue only after the House clearly say that it would pursue a separate voting on the issue. "(I would agree on it) only after the House officially and formally makes known its position on separate voting via a sense of the House resolution. Not before," Escudero said. - GMANews.TV