Bills on revising Constitution up for discussion again in Senate

The Senate building at the GSIS Complex in Pasay City (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The Senate will tackle again next Wednesday, Jan. 17, the proposed revision of the 1987 Constitution.

Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision Of Codes, said the hearing scheduled at 9:00 a.m. will tackle three bills on amending the Constitution.

These measures are:

• Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 by Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
• Joint Resolution No. 1 by Sen. Richard Gordon
• Senate Bill No. 128 by Sen. Miguel Zubiri

Pangilinan, who is president of theLiberal Party, said Constitution experts and members of the academe, the business sector, labor, civil society, and other concerned stakeholders would be invited to help provide inputs in going about the needed constitutional reforms.

“The way to initiate changes or reforms in the Constitution is through a deliberative, thorough, and transparent process,” Pangilinan said. “Everyone will have a say here and no one will be left in the dark.”

He said the hearing would also seek to answer if there would truly be a need to amend the Constitution and what parts should be revised.

They would also tackle the following questions:

• Should the amendments or revisions be proposed by a Constitutional Convention or by the Congress itself acting as a constituent assembly? Why?
• If Congress convenes as a constituent assembly to amend or revise the Constitution, should the Senate and the House of Representatives vote jointly or separately?
• Can Congress pass a resolution limiting the power of the Constituent Assembly or Constitutional Convention, or are their powers plenary?

/atm