Belmonte, Drilon to ‘sound out’ Aquino on Charter change
MANILA, Philippines—Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senator Franklin Drilon plan to meet with President Benigno Aquino during the congressional break supposedly to find out where he stands on a congressional initiative to amend certain economic provisions of the Constitution.
Specifically, they want to know if Aquino, who has said Charter change was not a priority of his administration, would oppose such a move by Congress.
Belmonte said this in a recent talk with reporters at the House of Representatives, explaining that he was seeking the meeting to enable both houses of Congress to plan their next moves. Congress ended sessions last week for a one month break.
The President has repeatedly stated amending the Constitution was not a priority of his administration and that he did not see any need to alter the Constitution, forged and ratified by the people early in his mother’s presidency.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have agreed in principle to adopt a bicameral constituent assembly as a mode of amending the Constitution.
The bicameral constituent assembly, with both houses voting separately on a bill to amend, was broached by Drilon during their legislative summit last month.
“It’s not a question it’s not his priority. Is he (President) opposed to it? As long as we’re doing his priorities, which we are at least doing, then we ought to know,” Belmonte said.
“I intend to find time to talk to the President and his advisers because really I also believe that at least his tacit approval or no opposition is necessary to pass this. That’s why we have to talk this over with him,” he said.
Told that he could fail in this mission as the President would not support Charter change, Belmonte said, “Well, let’s cross the bridge when we get there.”
Belmonte said that during the congressional break, the House committees could continue their hearings on certain bills, including the one on Charter change.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile earlier said Congress did not involve the President in Charter change at this time because the matter was purely an initiative of the legislature.
“Eventually, the President will have to come into play because we operate as a holistic government. I’d like to emphasize the fact that we are opening the discussion on the possibility of amending the economic provisions of the Constitution,” Enrile said.
He said the Senate would not rush discussions on Charter change because this involves the life of the nation and the interest of the people.
