Sotto files resolution asking SC to determine Senate role on treaty abrogation

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III has filed a resolution seeking Senate approval to file a petition asking the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution on the upper chamber’s role in treaty abrogation.

Sotto filed the resolution after the President unilaterally withdrew from the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States on Feb. 11.

Speaking with reporters on Monday, Sotto said once the resolution, once adopted by the body, would be attached to the petition former and incumbent senators were planning to file before the Supreme Court asking it to rule whether or not Senate concurrence would be necessary for terminating treaties.

“I filed a resolution now asking the Supreme Court to interpret for us, to finally interpret the Constitution on the issue of (treaty) abrogation,” he said.

“It’s a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate. If it’s approved tonight and hopefully it will, we will incorporate it in the petition that we will be filing most probably tomorrow if we’re able to finish the final petition tonight,” he added.

Senate Minority Franklin Drilon earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 305 asserting the role of the Senate in treaty withdrawal.

However, Sotto said the Senate foreign relations committee had “issues” on the contents of Drilon’s resolution.

“The issues raised are very specific… So the chairman of the foreign relations committee [Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III] was still trying to get the pulse of his members. So, therefore, I talked to him today — this morning — actually together with Senator [Panfilo] Lacson,” he said in Filipino.

“I told him that if they would take some time I would file a resolution today to finally ask the Supreme Court to rule,” he added.

Sotto said he and other senators who would want to join in the filing of the petition would do so personally.

“Most probably [we would file] personally. I’ll ask Senator Lacson and Senator Drilon and whoever would like to join us in filing the petition,” he said.

/atm