Zubiri warns of ‘legislative stalemate’ in Senate-House word war

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. INQUIRER.net / CATHY MIRANDA

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday warned of a possible “legislative stalemate” if the Senate and House of Representatives would not stop the word war regarding Charter change (Cha-cha).

In an ambush interview, Zubiri urged both chambers of the Congress to “tone down the hurtful words being spread by the two sides.”

“Grabe napakainit ng mga salita ng mga kongresista at senador. Sa tingin ko pag ganito pa rin tayo baka matengga ang constitutional amendments ng ating Saligang Batas,” he told reporters.

The senator recalled an instance when former House Speaker Jose De Venecia also pushed for Cha-cha. This, he said, resulted to the debates between the upper and the lower House.

“Ganito mangyayari dyan, even our legislative agenda may suffer. I recall as a member of Congress at the time, tinutulak ni Speaker Joe de Venecia yung Charter change nag-suffer yung local bills namin. Di tinackle ng Senado yung local bills dahil sa galit nila sa mga kongresista. Ayaw natin mangyari yun,” he said.

“Ayoko naman mangyari na sa galit nila, sa galit ng mga kasamahan ko, mag-suffer yung pet bills ng kongresista at tumagal at upuan at vice versa. ‘Yan ang pinaka pangit. We’ll have a legislative stalemate,” he explained. “And who will suffer? The Filipino people.”

In a bid to fast-track the talks on the possible amendment to the 1987 Constitution, Zubiri reiterated his call for Congress leaders to discuss the mode of Cha-cha.

“Again I reiterate na dapat mag-usap ang leadership ng House at ang Senado para walang suspicion (na maging joint session na). Huwag gawin sa Senate o House. Gawin sa hotel or restaurant para di masabi na joint session na ‘yan,” he said.

The House already adopted Concurrent Resolution No. 9, which seeks to convene Congress into a Constituent assembly (Con-ass). The lower chamber is also pushing for a joint voting of the Congress, which the Senate is strongly opposing.

Lawmakers have yet to decide on whether the proposed Constitutional amendment should be through a Constitutional convention (Con-con), where changes would be proposed by representatives elected by the people, or through a Con-ass to be composed of sitting legislators.

After agreeing on the mode of Cha-cha and consequently proposing amendments, a referendum by the Filipino people would be held to approve or reject these changes. /cbb