Pimentel resumes push for Con-ass

Senate President Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel III. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III continued to push for a constituent assembly, as he said the proposed hybrid body to introduce amendments to the Constitution might fail a constitutional challenge in the Supreme Court.

But for a constituent assembly to succeed, the House of Representatives must agree to separate voting, said Pimentel.

Pimentel disagreed with the view of Senate President Vicente Sotto III that the people might not want Congress, sitting as a constituent assembly, to introduce changes to the fundamental law of the land.

Sotto had floated the idea of creating a hybrid body composed of 12 Senators, 12 House of Representatives members, 12 presidential appointees and 12 representatives from civil society or the academe to propose changes to the constitution.

Sotto had said that he thought of the proposal because of concerns that a constitutional convention would be too expensive and time-consuming, while a constituent assembly made up of lawmakers could be distrusted by the people. He had also said a constituent assembly where Senate and House members would vote jointly would not be accepted by the Senators, who would be effectively sidetracked in such a scenario.

Pimentel, speaking in an interview with CNN Philippines on Monday, said Sotto’s proposal was “unique,” but was expected to be challenged in the Supreme Court.

“It will be questioned in the Supreme Court and it might fail the constitutional test,” he said.

Unlike Sotto, he does not believe that people do not want Congress to be involved in amending the Constitution.

“Because actually, the Senate has a high trust and approval rating,” he said.

The House also received its highest ever trust and approval rating under Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, he said.

Social Weather Station’s first quarter survey gave the Senate a “good” net satisfaction rating of +45, and a “good” +35 satisfaction rating for the House. The Senate’s rating fell by one grade from “very good” at +56 in December 2017.

But Pimentel agreed with Sotto that the House must agree to a separate voting in proposing changes, or else the Senate would not take part in the constituent assembly.

“That is going to be an issue and the Senate hopes to be able to convince the House that the vote should be ‘separately.’ If there is no agreement, then there will be no Con-ass effort or output,” he said in a text message.