It’s going to be a ‘different type’ of con-ass, Angara says on new Cha-cha bid

Sen. Sonny Angara during the interpellation in the Senate on Nov. 29, 2023. Joseph Vidal / OSEC-Social Media Unit

MANILA, Philippines — The proposed changes to the economic provisions of the 1987  Constitution will be accomplished through a “different type of a constituent assembly,” Senator Sonny Angara said on Tuesday.

According to the senator, the amendments would still be introduced via constituent assembly (con-ass).

“Pero it’s a different type of  constituent assembly,” said Angara, who is being eyed to lead a subcommittee that would  tackle amendments to the economic provisions.

“Sapagkat imbes na uupo ng isa yung Kamara at saka yung Senado—yun ang pangkaraniwang idea ng constituent assembly—dito, parang dadaan sa pamamaraan ng batas pero yung boto ay mas mataas yung requirement para maaaprub yun— two-thirds,” he explained over DZRH.

(Because instead of the House and the Senate convening together, which is the usual idea of a constituent assembly, it will now go through the legislative process, but the voting requirement for approval is higher — two-thirds)

The two-thirds vote, he stressed, is higher than the simple majority vote required when passing a regular measure in Congress.

Angara also affirmed the Senate’s firm stand that the two chambers of Congress should vote separately on any amendments to the Constitution.

“Opo yun talaga ang point of contention dito (That’s really the point of contention here),” he said.

“Dahil sa kalsada pa lang, sa pagbabago ng pangalan ng kalsada kailangan separately, ito pa kayang usapin ng Saligang Batas o pagbabago ng Saligang Batas na hindi araw-araw nating ginagawa at hindi pangkaraniwang panukalang batas? E talagang kailangang voting separately,” the senator added.

(Because if the renaming of a street is discussed separately, how much more is the issue of amending the Constitution, which we don’t accomplish daily and is not an ordinary legislative proposal? It really requires voting  separately)

Senate President Juan  Miguel Zubiri himself said there is no longer a need for the Senate and the House to convene jointly to discuss changes to the Constitution.

“No need, we don’t need to meet,” Zubiri said on Monday before he filed a resolution, proposing specific amendments to the economic provisions of the  Constitution.

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Angara co-authored the resolution.

Angara believes the measure has a better chance of getting the approval of the Senate now that the proposed changes will be limited to economic provisions only.