THE House of Representatives has shot down the override on President Benigno Aquino III’s veto of the law seeking to increase the Social Security System (SSS) pension hike.
The lower House failed to make the legislative intervention on the last day of the 16th Congress, which adjourned sine die its third regular session on Monday night.
During the session, Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao said the House could not tackle the override because by the time the proponent Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares moved for a vote on the override, the Senate had adjourned sine to end the third regular session of the 16th Congress.
Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fariñas said the Constitution clearly states that overriding a presidential veto should be considered by both Houses of Congress.
He said it would be a futile exercise for the lower House to override the veto because the Senate would still have to consider it.
“With all due respect, the Constitution is very clear with respect to override of a veto… Whatever we’ll be doing would be an exercise in futility because the Constitution requires, if we muster the two thirds to override the veto of the president, we should send it to the other House to reconsider it,” Fariñas said.
For his part, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon said Congress missed the opportunity to prove that the lower House is not subservient to Malacañang and the Senate.
“We have a chance to prove the principle of separation of powers. The president has exercised an executive decision to veto but the Constitution provides that executive session be subject to the co-equal power of the legislature. All I’m asking is for this House to be given a chance to put on record that the House of Representatives is exercising its power to override the veto,” Biazon said.
Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing had the same opinion, saying “Let it be said that, at least for posterity, we are truly independent from the executive and the other chamber of the Senate.”
“Huwag naman masabi na we are hopeless just because nag-sine die na (ang Senate), inutile na tayo,” he added.
Colmenares, the proponent of the override, said Congress could have used the opportunity to set a precedent that it could intervene in a presidential veto of a significant bill.
“Sayang, we could have set a precedent of the congressional intervention to an unjust veto,” Colmenares said.
“We could make history and make a strong legislative intervention to alleviate the plight of our senior citizens. We cannot abdicate on that role mainly because baka useless na yun,” he added.
Majority leader Neptali Gonzales II said it would defeat the purpose of an override if it’s only meant to send a message that the House is independent from the Senate and the executive department.
“It’s not an override if it would just be a statement which is far from the override provided for in the Constitution,” Gonzales said.
Outgoing President Aquino vetoed the approved bill increasing the pension by P2,000 because the proposal would bankrupt the state pension fund.
READ: Aquino vetoes increase in SSS pension
Aquino said the P2,000 across-the-board pension hike for all 2.1 million pensioners would cost the SSS some P56 billion. SSS only earns an annual investment income of P30 billion.
The proposed law would have increased the monthly pension by P2,000 across-the-board – to P3,200 from P1,200 for those with 10 credited years of service, and to P4,000 from P2,400 for those with 20 years.
READ: House shuts out SSS veto override
Under the 1987 Constitution, both Houses of Congress may overturn a president’s veto of a bill in a separate two thirds vote.