Robredo to succeed Duterte in shift to federal gov’t – House panel chair

The House committee on constitutional amendments has finally placed Vice President Leni Robredo in the line of leadership succession during the transition period to a federal form of government under the chamber’s draft federal Charter.

Panel chair Vicente “Ching” Veloso confirmed this in a text message to INQUIRER.net on Monday, saying the committee approved the amendment in an executive session.

“Yes, already approved,” the lawmaker said when asked about the issue.

The Leyte 3rd District congressman also said they did not change anything aside from the line of succession found in Article XVII Section 4 of the draft Resolution of Both Houses of Congress No. 15.

“None. Sa plenary na ‘yon,” he said, referring to the other amendments they would make to the proposed federal bill.

The lower chamber reverted the draft charter to the committee level last October 10 following criticisms.

READ: House throws Arroyo’s draft federal Charter back to committee level

Article XVII Section 4 of the draft federal Charter principally introduced by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had put the Senate President as the President’s successor should a vacancy arises during the transition period to federalism.

This is different from the current line of succession provided under Section 8, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, which places the Vice President first in the line of succession, followed by the Senate President and then the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  /kga

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