Lacson positive he’ll get support to constitute Senate as ConAss

Senator Panfilo Lacson expressed optimism that he will get the support of his fellow senators on his plan to constitute the Senate as a separate constituent assembly (ConAss) from the House of Representatives.

"I think palatable ito sa kasamahan ko. Kasi sa akin meron pa kaming fallback. Nag-constitute kami bilang ConAss bilang Senado, at halimbawa may mag-question nito 'di pa kami nakakapasok o sumanib sa joint session," Lacson said in a radio interview on Saturday.

The senator earlier said he will will file a resolution next week that would constitute the Senate as a separate ConAss to ensure that the upper chamber is not rendered irrelevant in amending the Constitution.

Lacson argued that it would be better to constitute the Senate as a ConAss, separate from the lower house, because if the Senate enters in a joint session - wherein three-fourths of all members are needed to amend the Constitution - the upper chamber would be irrelevant since they're outnumbered by congressmen.

The senator said the two chambers can reconcile any conflicting provisions in a bicameral committee.

"Ang aking resolution kung halimbawa nag-form ang Senado into a ConAss at ito kinwestyon at tapos nakuwestiyon ng kung sinumang taxpayer at mag-rule ng SC (Supreme Court) voting jointly nasa sa amin kung papasok kami sa joint session," he said.

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

The senator said his proposal would divide the Senate and House of Representative into different committees.

"Parang committees on suffrage, preamble, amendments, executive and legislative, judiciary, ganoon din. Puwede mag-overlap ang committees puwedeng isang senador puwede magkaroon more than one committee sa dami ng provision. Depende sa dami ng provision na aamyendahan," Lacson said. —Ted Cordero/ALG, GMA News