‘We must vote separately or it’s as if nothing has been passed in the House’

If both chambers of the Congress would not agree on voting separately when they convened in a constituent assembly (Con-ass) in amending the Constitution, “it’s as if nothing has been passed” in the House of Representatives, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Wednesday.

Last Tuesday, the House adopted Concurrent Resolution No. 9, which seeks to convene Congress into a Con-ass to amend the Charter.

READ: House adopts resolution convening Congress as constituent assembly

Reacting to this, and based on the discussion during a joint Senate hearing on Charter change (Cha-cha) on Wednesday, Lacson said “we cannot be forced to adopt kung ano ang gusto ng House.”

“If it comes to that at hindi nag-agree it’s as if nothing’s been passed in the House,” he added.

Lacson, meanwhile, remained confident that the recently-passed resolution by the lower chamber would not pressure the Senate.

“Walang pressure whatsoever. Sabi ko nga hearing the views of the three former magistrates ng SC (Supreme Court), lalong tumibay paniniwala namin na di kami pwede ma-pressure,” the senator stressed.

“And if ever it comes to that kasi pangit naman the Senate will not do anything, parang naka-stand fast na walang ginagawa, mabuti na rin ang ginagawa rin namin ang dapat namin gawin given the situation and circumstances,” he added.

Lacson also echoed the majority decision of senators that when it comes to convening the Congress into a Con-ass, it is clear that the two chambers should vote separately.

“Maliwanag yan na we should vote separately. Now what is the guarantee na pag may joint session na, talagang voting separately masusunod? We want to be assured,” he said.

“Sana may mga nanonood sa kanila kanina at narinig ang intelligent discussion at saka ang views na expressed ng learned among us,” he also said.

In amending the country’s 31-year-old 1987 Constitution, lawmakers could either opt for a Constitutional convention (Con-con) where members of the body would be voted by the people, or legislators would convene in a Con-ass to revise the Charter.

READ: House awaiting Senate’s formal action on Con-ass clash