Change of senators’ attire part of draft Cha-cha rules, says Villanueva

Twelve of the 24 senators of the 19th Congress registered “perfect attendance” since the lawmaking body’s Second Regular Session started on July 24, 2023, according to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, citing records from the Senate Secretariat. (File photo from ALEXIS CORPUZ/INQUIRER)

MANILA, Philippines — Senators would have to change their attire when the Senate convenes as a constituent assembly to tackle the proposed constitutional amendments.

This was part of the draft Charter change (Cha-cha) rules which are now up for approval by the Senate committee on rules, according to its chairman, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva.

“Reading-ready na po tayo. Ang committee on rules is ready to adopt new Senate rules for Charter change proposal,” Villanueva said at Tuesday’s Kapihan sa Senado.

He noted the committee has already “agreed in principle” on the draft rules when they last met on March 6.

“Napagkasunduan namin in principle yung mga nais naming ilagay doon. And then, the secretariat would present to us yung napakagkasunduan…” he said.

(We agreed in principle on the things we want to include there. And then, the secretariat would present to us what we agreed upon.)

Villanueva added the draft guidelines would be similar to the existing rules of the Senate, except that they would have to wear a different attire when tackling Cha-cha proposals.

“Yeah. Nasama din po dun,” when asked about Senator Francis Tolentino’s earlier suggestion that they should be in robes like judges in court.

(Yes. It was included there.)

“If we will go to that (constituent assembly), hindi na kami legislators but part na kami nung pag-amend ng Constitution,” he said.

(If we’ll go to that [constituent assembly], we won’t be legislators anymore but we’ll be part of amending the Constitution.)

This, he said, would serve as a reminder to them that when discussing constitutional amendments, they are no longer acting as legislators, but as members of the constituent assembly.

Pressed if they would be wearing the attire as suggested by Tolentino, Villanueva  said: “Basta it will definitely distinguish… We’ll be different from our usual work as legislators here in the Senate.”

Still pending before the Senate subcommittee on constitutional  amendments is Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, which proposes changes to specific economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Its counterpart measure was already passed in March by the House of Representatives.

NOTE: AI Generated Content, used for English translation