Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian said that Senate should be involved in the decision of revisions to the 1987 Constitution, contrary to Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s statement on Monday afternoon that House can amend the Constitution alone.
“House Speaker Alvarez must put an end to the House’s efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution without the participation of the Senate,” according to Gatchalian’s statement.
“The House cannot amend the Constitution without the Senate’s consent, and vice versa,” he added.
The senator said that House should work with Senate to produce organized chambers in Constituent Assembly, since it would be illogical for one chamber to change the law without the participation of the other.
“Indeed, it would be absurd for one chamber of a bicameral legislature to be able to change the fundamental law of the land without the participation and assent of the other chamber,” Gatchalian stated.
“Instead of attempting to undermine and bypass the Senate, the leadership of the House should work with the Senate leadership to create an inclusive and constitutionally sound plan to convene the chambers together in a Constituent Assembly,” he added.
Gatchalian also stated that it will result to illegitimate draft constitution if the House continues amending the constitution alone.
“Otherwise, if the House continues down the reckless path it has set upon, their risky experiment in constitutional alchemy will result in an illegitimate draft constitution which will surely be rejected by the people via plebiscite.” (Angelica Bobiles – PTV)
