Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Tuesday, February 20 expressed belief the filing of Resolution of Both Houses No. 7, which also seeks amendments to the economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution is a positive development. 

Angara, chairman of the Senate subcommittee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes and leading the hearings on Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, pointed this out as the panel continued with its hearings in the Senate.

“Nauna kami (We were ahead), so that’s good. Sa akin positive ang pag-file ng RBH7. Imbes na magbangayan, imbes na magdaily prescon na tinitira lang ang senado mas okay na magkahearing na sila para pag usapan (To me the filing of RBH 7 is a positive development. Instead of squabbling, instead of holding daily press conference where the Senate is constantly being attacked, it’s preferrable to hold hearings so it can be discussed),” Angara told reporters at the sidelines of the hearing.

“Sila naman, ang maganda sa cong they are in their own districts so pwede nilang konsultahin ang mga distrito nila (On their part, the congressmen have their advantage because they can consult their constituents within their own districts),” he said. 

Angara said the House’s filing of RBH 7 is necessary especially if they are going to adopt the Senate’s RBH 6 “as promised.”

“They have to, if they are going to adopt, as promised, kung ia-adopt nila ung sa Senado kailangan din nilang magpasa (if they will adopt the Senate version, they also need to pass) for the House to pass their own version,” he said.

“Kung ia-adopt yun kailangan meron silang version (If they will adopt the Senate version, they also need to have their own version),” he stressed. 

Should there be disagreeing provisions between the House and the Senate's versions, a bicameral conference committee meeting might be necessary, Angara added.

But he said both the House and Senate should vote separately on the measure proposing amendments to the Constitution.

Nevertheless, Angara said senators will consult their counterparts in the House before they finalize and approve their version of the measure. 

“Magu-usap din kami kahit informally para plantsado lang (we will talk to them even informally, just to make sure everything is ironed out),” he said.

Angara is one of the authors of RBH 6; Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda are the two other authors.

RBH No. 6 primarily seeks to amend some economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, particularly Articles XII, XIV, and XVI.

The filing of RBH No. 6 came after the senators were infuriated on the sudden push for a People’s Initiative (PI) signature drive to amend the Constitution which they believe was orchestrated by members of the House, including Speaker Martin Romualdez.