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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider People's Initiative can be the 'back-up plan' if Senate doesn't pass RBH 6--Barbers 

People's Initiative can be the 'back-up plan' if Senate doesn't pass RBH 6--Barbers 

Published Feb 8, 2024 11:06 am

At A Glance

  • The People's Initiative (PI) may yet serve as a "back-up plan" for Charter change (Cha-cha) proponents in case Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.6 doesn't get passed by the Senate, said Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

FB_IMG_1678943024629.jpgSurigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Facebook)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The People’s Initiative (PI) may yet serve as a "back-up plan" for Charter change (Cha-cha) proponents in case Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.6 doesn't get passed by the Senate. 

Thus, bared Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers amid concerns from his colleagues in the House of Representatives that senators may take too much time in passing RBH No.6, to the point of "killing" the Cha-cha effort. 

"We are just giving the Senate the time to consider approving and adopting RBH No.6. It would really be appreciated if they will adopt this within the time that they have promised,” Barbers said in a press briefing Wednesday, Feb. 7. 

“Of course, if this will not happen, I think ongoing pa naman 'yung PI eh and it's just suspended for the meantime in the Comelec (Commission on Elections). Maybe the back-up plan is to consider the PI,” he said. 

The Senate leadership had earlier promised to approved RBH No. 6 by March. However, October appears to be the senators' new timeline. 

RHB No.6 seeks to create a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) in order to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. It was filed back in Jan. 15. 

The House of Representatives, for its part, had vowed to adopt the Senate's RBH No.6; but this was when the timeline was set for a March 2024 approval. 

Barbers is among the House members who believe that an October passage of RBH No.6 would be too late, given that the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC) would begin around that time. Next year, 2025, is a election year. 

Report said late last month that the people behind the PI movement already have the required number of signatures to file a petition before Comelec to pursue constitutional amendments. The poll body then suspended the PI process. 

Babers said that the most contentious issue that needs to be settled for Charter reform to proceed is the manner of voting between the two legislative chambers--the 300-plus strong House and the 24-member Senate.  

Barbers said there are divergent views on this but that he is of the opinion that the House and the Senate should vote jointly or as one body on any proposed constitutional amendment. 

“My opinion is based on my interpretation of Article 17 of the Constitution, which states that Congress may proposed changes in the Constitution, to quote the language of the provision, ‘by a vote of three-fourths’ of all its members,” he stressed. 

He said the failure of the House and the Senate to resolve this issue has stymied every House advocacy for Charter reform since the 8th Congress.

Related Tags

Robert Ace Barbers Charter change People’s Initiative
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