Richard Gomez says Speaker Romualdez supports Senate’s con-ass

Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez on Thursday said House Speaker Martin Romualdez has agreed to go with the Senate’s move to change the 1987 Constitution through a constituent assembly (con-ass).

“When I reported to our Speaker, he said yes,” Gomez said at a press briefing of PDP-Laban when asked if they were already sure that the House, which pushed for constitutional convention (con-con), would support Charter change through a con-ass instead.

“Sa bicam, they will come out with a resolution and the Speaker said that if the Senate will come out with the version na con-ass then they will go for it,” he added.

GMA News Online has reached out to Romualdez for comment.

According to Gomez, Romualdez agreed on all conditions that the Senate pursued for constitutional amendments.

“Number one, con-ass, pumayag si Speaker. Pangalawa, economic provisions daw yung pag-uusapan natin, pumayag si Speaker. Pangatlo, voting separately, pumayag si Speaker,” he said.

(Number 1, con-ass, the Speaker agreed, Second, to tackle economic provisions, the Speaker agreed. Third, voting separately, the Speaker agreed.)

“Yan 'yung stand ng [That is the stand of the] House. So we agree on all conditions that the Senate wants with regards to constitutional amendments,” he added.

The House of Representatives recently approved on third and final reading House Bill 7352, which seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution through a con-con.

Earlier, Senator Robin Padilla filed Resolution of Both Houses No. 3 which seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions via con-ass.

In a con-con, those who will amend the Charter will be elected by the people. In a con-ass, the changes will be deliberated by incumbent members of Congress.

Padilla earlier said the House will have to yield its position to change the 1987 Constitution through a con-con if it wants the Charter change initiative to have a better chance of getting approved in the Senate.

The Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes wrapped up its public hearings March 16, with its chair Padilla saying he would continue to push for the economic charter change. — BM, GMA Integrated News