In a press briefing on Wednesday, Deputy Speaker David Suarez and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V explained that Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe’s belief that RBH No. 7 can be sent to Comelec was borne out of the lack of clarity in the next steps for constitutional amendments.
They, however, still prefer that RBH No. 7 be treated like a normal bill, which means it will be consolidated with the senators’ RBH No. 6 after the Senate approves their version.
“Of course, the stand of the, the ideal setup is for it to pass through Congress first; that’s what we want since, of course, it’s also a time to reconnect with the Senate. So for me personally, I want it to go through the old process and we would look at how the Senate would respond,” Ortega said.
“In relation to the statements of Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe, what we are going through is unchartered waters, especially we are in a very advanced state of amending our Constitution — advanced because it is the first time in our nation’s history (that) the Senate is actually tackling constitutional amendments with RBH 6, and us, with RBH 7,” Suarez added.
RBH No. 7, which seeks to amend three of the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions, is expected to be approved at the House session later this day while the Senate’s RBH No. 6 is still with a subcommittee — creating questions as to how the House would proceed after approving the proposed amendments.
Suarez said that Dalipe’s belief that RBH No. 7 should be sent to Comelec is anchored on the fact that it is also the poll body that would prepare for the plebiscite that would either ratify or junk the proposed amendments.
“The statements of Congressman Mannix Dalipe echo what is written in the Constitution: that after a three-fourths vote, Comelec, being the rightful agency, will have to conduct the plebiscite,” Suarez said.
“Because whatever the results of the discussions between the Senate and the House, we would still give it to the people to decide what is right for the country. We should not miss this chance for the Filipino people to decide. So that’s the theme of Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe’s statements,” he added.
Last Monday, Suarez said he hoped the leaders of both the House and the Senate could meet during the Holy Week break to discuss the next steps for the economic Charter change, especially since the proposals are expected to meet constitutional challenges before the Supreme Court.
Suarez believes this is still the correct way to proceed — a meeting between the two chambers to create a path that would face fewer constitutionality questions.
“But with the directive of our Speaker maybe the best and prudent way — because of the possible constitutional challenges to RBH 6 and RBH 7, I know that the sectors are preparing file petitions — the best way is for all of us is to maximize this Holy Week break so that the leadership of the House and the Senate can reconcile on a definitive path on how to approach RBH 6 and RBH 7,” he noted.