Sotto: No Cha-cha discussion on joint session next week

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III answers questions from the media during Kapihan sa Senado on May 24. INQUIRER.NET / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines —Senators will not let Charter change (Cha-cha) be raised when the lower and upper chamber convene next week to tackle the possible extension of martial law in Mindanao, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Friday.

“Hindi kami papayag. At kapag magtatawag (na) kami ng joint session, ang i-a-approve naming siguradong resolution dito is to tackle that particular subject matter,” Sotto told reporters in an interview.

The Senate leader made the remark after he announced earlier that President Rodrigo Duterte might call for a joint session on Wednesday, December 12, for the possible extension of martial law in Mindanao.

READ: Sotto: Duterte likely to call for joint session on martial law extension

The lower house on Tuesday approved on second reading a proposal to shift to a federal form of government authored by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through viva voce or voice voting.

In a recent interview, Constitutional Amendments panel chair and Leyte 3rd Dist. Rep. Vincente Veloso told reporters that lawmakers are looking to pass the measure on final reading by Monday.

Once the resolution gets the nod of the lower chamber, it would be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.

READ: House OKs draft federal charter on 2nd reading

While most members of the House of Representatives, dominated by allies of Duterte, are enthusiastic about amending the current charter, the Senate has been cool on the matter.

Senators have previously said the proposed Charter change is “dead” in the upper chamber.

Duterte has been pushing for a shift to a federal form of government, which he claimed would speed up development outside Metro Manila. /kga