The Senate will discuss on Wednesday, January 27, the timeliness of the moves to amend the 1987 Constitution during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Senator Francis Pangilinan said Monday.
Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment, stressed that sectors affected by the proposed amendments would be consulted.
He said the following resource persons have so far confirmed attendance to the 10:00 a.m. hearing:
1. Florangel Rosario Braid Ph.D.
2. Father Ranhilio Aquino
3. Former Supreme Court Justice Vicente Mendoza
4. DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya
5. Attorney Christian Monsod
6. Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide
7. Department of Justice (DOJ) Chief State Counsel George O. Ortha II with State Counsels Jenny A. De Castro and/or Aiza Riz P. Mendoza.
Pangilinan said the hearing would tackle procedural concerns and “prejudicial questions” that need to be considered relative to the proposed Charter change.
He asked whether it is time to amend the Constitution while the COVID-19 pandemic is stalking the country and has created a crisis in the economy.
On the mode of amending the Charter, Pangilinan asked whether it should be constitutional assembly (con-ass) or constitutional convention (con-con).
‘’Kung con-con, e di maliwanag yung eleksyon, kalian?’’ he asked. (If it is con-con, it is clear there would be election {of con-con delegates} and when?).
‘’If it is a con-ass, there should be an issue which up now remains unresolved: Will it be that the Senate and the House of Representatives voting jointly?’’ he asked.
‘’Will this mean that the 300 plus representatives and senators vote jointly? he asked further. ’O three-fourths vote separately, ibig sabihin (this means) three-fourths vote ang (of the) Senate, at three-fourths vote ng (of the) House,” he added.
The hearing will discuss Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 1, Senators Francis Tolentino and Ronald Dela Rosa’s RBH No. 2, as well as Senator Richard Gordon’s Senate Joint Resolution No. 1.