Lawmaker: No prime minister post under proposed federal Charter
Leyte 3rd District Rep. Vicente “Ching” Veloso, the new chair of constitutional amendments at the House of Representatives, expressed doubts that the panel would allow a prime minister post under the draft federal charter.
In a phone interview with reporters on Monday, he also dismissed the apprehensions of some senators in dealing with Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s position on Charter change (Cha-cha).
Some senators, including Grace Poe and Panfilo Lacson, said Arroyo could become prime minister if the proposed shift to a federal form of government succeeds.
READ: Arroyo as PM? Think twice – Lacson | Poe: Have we forgotten Arroyo’s ‘sins’?
But Veloso said this is unlikely since President Rodrigo Duterte’s Consultative Committee (Con-com) has proposed a presidential federal form of government, not parliamentary, so there would be no prime minister post.
“At (And) I doubt if the committee will be entertaining the (idea of a) prime minister (position),” he added.
READ: Arroyo on fears she’ll be PM: ‘That’s black propaganda’
Con-com federal charter as working draft
In the same interview, Veloso explained that the committee on constitutional amendments would be using the proposed federal charter of the Con-com, led by retired chief justice Reynato Puno, as their working draft once they begin the Cha-cha hearings on Tuesday.
READ: House to rush charter change in ‘two months,’ says panel head Veloso
House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. said they would be filing a resolution “expressing the sentiment of the House that we are willing to go along [with] the Senate” and vote separately once Congress convenes into a Constituent Assembly (Con-ass), as Arroyo previously stated.
READ: Arroyo: House to vote separately from Senate on Cha-cha
Veloso disclosed that Arroyo, Andaya and him will be the principal authors of the resolution.
But before they could file the resolution, they need to withdraw House Concurrent Resolution No. 9, filed last Jan. 18.
This resolution convenes Congress into a Con-ass and proposes joint voting of the Senate and House to amend the 1987 Constitution. /ee
