Pimentel says Padilla's SC petition 'premature'

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Thursday described Senator Robin Padilla's petition before the Supreme Court as "premature" and "outside the jurisdiction" of the high court.

"The action for declaratory relief can be filed in the courts lower than the Supreme Court. Let us not waste the Supreme Court’s precious time," Pimentel, a lawyer, said in a text message to reporters.

For Pimentel, the SC's time "should be devoted to actual controversies the settlement of which would lessen friction in society, and not on advisory opinions just to educate the petitioner."

Senate President Francis Escudero also described the Padilla's petition as 'premature.'

GMA News Online sought a reaction from Padilla's camp but it has yet to issue a reply.

Earlier this week, Padilla asked the SC for an “authoritative declaration” on whether Congress should vote jointly or separately on amendments to the 1987 Constitution. Padilla is chairperson of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes.

In the petition, Padilla asked for the Court to declare on constitutional matters related to Sections 1(1) and 3, Article XVII of the 1987 Constitution.

Padilla stressed that the Senate and the House of Representatives had butted heads over the matter.

"Without the Honorable Court's declarative pronouncements, these questions, as well as the unstable relations between the two Houses of Congress, shall persist," Padilla said in a statement.

In February, the senator also filed a resolution seeking separate voting by the two houses of Congress in amending the 1987 Constitution.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, however, has said that the Senate will place proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution on the backburner. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News