Lagman: Change in Senate leadership good to enhance chances of economic Cha-cha

COMPOSITE PHOTO Senate of the Philippines and House of Representatives/INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The recent change in the Senate leadership may enhance the chances to approve the proposed amendment of the 1987 Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions, a lawmaker said on Sunday.

“Itong usapin sa Cha-cha ay tapos na sa Mababang Kapulungan (ng Kongreso), and I have said my piece then, and it’s always possible that a change of leadership will also enhance the chances of Charter change,” Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman said in a statement.

(This Cha-cha matter is over in the lower chamber (of Congress), and I have said my piece then, and it’s always possible that a change of leadership will also enhance the chances of Charter change.)

To recall, the lower chamber passed Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, which seeks to amend the Constitution’s economic provisions on public utilities, basic education, and advertising, on the third and final reading last March 20.

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However, the upper chamber is still discussing its version of the resolution RBH No. 6.

“But let us wait and see. Let the development unfold in the Senate because the House has already approved the Cha-cha resolution,” Lagman added.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri — who resigned last May 20 — authored RBH No. 6 along with Senators Loren Legarda and Juan Edgardo Angara. Replacing Zubiri was Senator Francis Escudero, who other senators elected on the same day.

Aside from economic cha-cha’s approval, Lagman also commented on the joint or separate voting on the proposed amendment, saying that the issue “will go to the Supreme Court for a final decision.”

“Iba ‘yung trabaho ng Kongreso. Sapagkat sa Kongreso, kami ay nagle-legislate ng batas. Iba rin ‘yung trabaho ng constituent assembly na magpropose ng amendments to the Constitution,” the lawmaker said.

(Congress has a different job. Because in Congress, we legislate the law. The constituent assembly’s job to propose amendments to the Constitution is also different.)

“Kaya duon natin makikita ang pagkaiba. Whether it is joint or separate, palagay ko hindi matatapos ang debate among us. Among senators and congressmen baka umabot sa Korte Suprema,” he added.

(That’s where we can see the difference. Whether it is joint or separate, the debate among us will never end. The discussion between senators and congressmen may reach the Supreme Court.)