Pimentel on Padilla’s Cha-cha plea: Let’s not waste SC’s precious time

Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III scrutinizes the premium rate contribution of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) under Senate Bill No. 2620, also known as an Act Amending Republic Act. No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Pimentel on August 8 said the latest Charter change (Cha-cha) petition of Sen. Robinhood Padilla before the high court “is not only premature but outside of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.” Adding, “Let us not waste the Supreme Court’s precious time.” (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — “Let us not waste the Supreme Court’s precious time.”

These were the words used by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III when he was asked to comment on Sen. Robinhood Padilla’s latest Charter change (Cha-cha) petition filed before the Supreme Court.

Pimentel’s remarks came after Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero admitted to thinking that Padilla’s bid is still premature to be tackled.

Padilla, who heads the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, earlier filed a petition before the Supreme Court, asking for an urgent oral argument to resolve the issue of whether both chambers of Congress should vote jointly or separately on amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

READ: Padilla seeks SC oral argument on joint vs separate Cha-cha votes

Pimentel backed Escudero’s remarks, emphasizing that Padilla’s bid is better addressed in another platform.

“[It is] not only premature but outside of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court’s precious time should be devoted to actual controversies, the settlement of which would lessen friction in society, and not on advisory opinions just to educate the petitioner,” the minority leader said in a text message to INQUIRER.net on Thursday.

“The action for declaratory relief can be filed in the courts lower than the Supreme Court. Let us not waste the Supreme Court’s precious time,” he added.

Before Padilla’s Cha-cha petition with the Supreme Court, Escudero already announced in July that the Senate will place “divisive” bills to amend the 1987 Constitution on a “backburner.”