Senator Robinhood C. Padilla expressed dismay at the failure of some officials of the Executive branch to attend a public hearing by his Senate constitutional amendments committee that seeks to revise the 1987 Constitution.

This failure to attend the third public hearing of the committee prompted Padilla to state that there could be merit to a probable shift from a presidential to a parliamentary form of government.

"Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hirap na hirap ang Senado na mag-imbita ng ibang secretary (I don’t know why it is so difficult to invite secretaries). Hindi ko po alam sapagka’t itong Constitution natin ngayon sa 1987, ang sinasabi nito, merong balanseng kapangyarihan ang legislative at ang executive. Ibig sabihin pantay tayo ng kapangyarihan (The 1987 Constitution provides for a balance of power between the Executive and the Legislature)," Padilla said at the hearing on Friday, September 2.

‘’Kapag inimbita sana ang taga-executive sana po ay mapagbibigyan niyo kami sapagka’t dito di kami mga marites o parites... Itong bagay na ito ay hindi isang bagay na isinasantabi sapagka’t Saligang Batas po ito (I hope that when we invite you, those in the Executive branch please come..this is one issue that should not be sidelined because we are talking about the Constitution).’’ Padilla explained.

"Sana mag-Parliamentary na lang tayo dahil sa Parliamentary, obligado silang humarap, isa na ang executive at legislative (Under a parliamentary form, they are obliged to appear). Bawa’t linggo doon sila sa harap natin pwede natin sila kwestyunin (They are present every week and face questioning). Pwede sila natin makapanayam ng magandang usapan (We can invite them),’’ he added.

Padilla read a letter from the Department of Energy (DOE) that it could not attend the hearing.

The DOE said that it would later submit written comments at a "ater date after due internal study."

Padilla said the constitutional issues are sensitive that these offices should give their Interest to.

Under a parliamentary form of government, they could face one another and there is no hiding, he added.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III supported Padilla, adding that a parliamentary form is a merger of legislative and executive functions.

"Hindi ko sinasabing panacea but improved by the parliamentary system (I am not saying it (parliamentary form) is a panacea but improved by the parliamentary system). Kasi ang head of agency, head of the department implementing the laws passed by the Parliament or legislation belongs to the Parliament in a parliamentary system (Because the head of the agency, the head of the department implementing the laws passed by Parliamentary of legislation belongs to the Parliament in a parliamentary system)," Pimentel said.

Senators Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said the Executive and Legislative branches should respect each other because they are co-equal branch of government. Senator Francis Tolentino agreed with Padlla’s observation.