Robin pushes for Cha-cha via con-con anew in 20th Congress

Senator Robin Padilla has refiled a resolution in the 20th Congress seeking to revise the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines through a constitutional convention. 

Padilla, chairman of the Senate constitutional amendments and revision of codes, filed a Resolution of Both Houses, emphasizing the need to revise the 1987 Constitution “so that our government can respond properly to the current needs of the nation.”

To dispel any doubt that may arise through his proposal, he said that a constitution convention is deemed to be the “more appropriate mode” of doing such. 

Padilla noted that through a con-con, the revision of the Constitution would be “participatory and democratic, granting that the delegates are elected by the people and are more likely be a more diverse and representative body.”

“Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines, by a vote of two-thirds of all members of each House voting separately, to call for a Constitutional Convention to revise the 1987 Constitution,” the resolution read.

It added that the Congress shall enact an enabling legislation that will embody all details relative to the convening of the con-con.

Under Article XVII of the 1987 Constitution, Charter change can be done through:

• Congress upon a vote of three-fourth of all its members
• Constitutional convention
• People’s initiative upon a petition of at least twelve per centum of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum of the registered voters therein.

Incentives to witnesses

Padilla also filed a separate resolution directing the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the alleged payment or offering of incentives to witnesses testifying in Senate investigations. 

In the unnumbered resolution, the senator highlighted that there was a recent incident involving allegations that certain people have paid or offered incentives to a witness “in exchange for testimony in support of a particular narrative.” 

If proven true, he said that the allegations "compromise the credibility and truthfulness of inquires and erodes public trust in the legislative process.” 

“[I]t is imperative for the Senate to investigate these allegations to determine the institution’s vulnerability to such unethical activities and to recommend measures that will protect the integrity of the legislative process, and hold accountable and penalize the proponents of such practices,” the resolution read. 

Padilla did not name any names in the resolution, but Michael Maurilio or alias Rene recently claimed in a video that he was influenced by Senator Risa Hontiveros to testify against former President Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte, and detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Hontiveros has denied the allegations, and in turn, filed cyberlibel complaints against Maurilio and others before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Department of Justice (DOJ). — RF, GMA Integrated News