This file photo shows Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor during a briefing at the House of Representatives. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives should first resolve with the Senate issues surrounding the process of Charter change (Cha-cha) before proceeding with it, Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor said Tuesday.
Defensor said that in rushing Cha-cha, “the House is putting the cart before the horse.”
“The House should first resolve with the Senate at least two contentious issues,” Defensor said in a statement.
“One is whether the two chambers need to approve a joint resolution formally convening themselves into a constituent assembly before one or both of them can tackle any amendment proposal. The other issue is whether the two chambers vote separately,” he added.
Defensor noted that there are differences as to how the two chambers believe the Cha-cha process should proceed. These differences, he said, need to be resolved first.
For instance, Defensor said that while senators believe that the two chambers should vote separately on Cha-cha, some House lawmakers believe that the voting should be done jointly.
“It takes two to Cha-cha. Unless the House convinces the Senate to get on board its Cha-cha express, the House would just be wasting precious time, effort and taxpayers’ money,” Defensor said.
House committee on constitutional amendments chairperson Alfredo Garbin Jr. said that plenary debates on Cha-cha will begin on February 22 in the lower chamber.
Meanwhile, in the Senate where the push for Cha-cha seems to be weaker, only one hearing in the committee level has been held so far.