House throws Arroyo’s draft federal Charter back to committee level

House members at the plenary INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

The House of Representatives has returned its controversial draft federal Charter back to the committee level to make Vice President Leni Robredo the successor of President Rodrigo Duterte during the transition period into a federal form of government.

Cebu City 1st District Rep. Raul del Mar’s motion to return the proposal back to the panel met no objection during the session on Wednesday, the last day before Congress goes on a break.

In his motion, Del Mar said the draft federal Charter should be returned to the committee level “in order to introduce perfecting amendments to the failure to include the vice president in the first line of succession which led to some misunderstandings.”

Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. then said the majority bloc would submit this amendment to the committee on constitutional amendments at the proper time.

“On the part of the majority, at the proper time, we will submit an amendment to the committee as requested by the honorable Raul del Mar,” he said.

Article XVII Section 4 of Resolution of Both Houses of Congress No. 15 states that “in case a vacancy arises by reason of removal, resignation, permanent incapacity or death of the incumbent President, the incumbent Senate President shall act as President until a President shall have been chosen and qualified.”

This is different from the current line of succession provided under Section 8, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, which puts the Vice President first in the line of succession, followed by the Senate President and then the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

READ: Arroyo federal charter excludes VP from succession during transition  

The proposed charter introduced by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other lawmakers was at the period of sponsorship on the House floor since Monday.

READ: Arroyo’s draft charter ‘could be worse than 1935 Constitution’—Generoso

/kga