MANILA — Four senators have asked to be co-authors to Senate resolution filed by Senator Panfilo Lacson calling on the Senate to convene into a constituent assembly (con-ass) to propose amendments to or revision of the 1987 Constitution filed Monday.
These senators include Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Senators Gringo Honasan, Grace Poe, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Before the Senate resumed its plenary session, Sotto told reporters that he would not only support Lacson’s resolution but be asked to be made co-author.
Poe also said in an ambush interview that she would also like to be co-author as it was only right that the two chambers of the Congress vote on the amendment of the Constitution separately.
Honasan and Zubiri, meanwhile, also asked to be co-authors during the session itself.
Lacson’s Senate Resolution 580 “directs the Senate of the Philippines to constitute itself into a constituent assembly to propose amendments to or revision of the Constitution and upon approval by a three-fourths vote of all its members, approve the said amendments to or revision of the Constitution,”
He earlier said that this way, the Senate can already constitute in a con-ass and merely wait for the lower house to do the same if they wish.
In previous interviews, Lacson said that it was clear that the Senate and House of Representatives (HoR) should vote separately because the Constitution did not indicate that voting should be done jointly.
Lacson also pointed out that if a “simple” or basic legislation needed to be voted on the two chambers separately, what more if it was legislation to amend the Constitution
He, meanwhile, expressed hope that his resolution would resolve political positioning of those favoring one or the other mode.
The senator earlier said that if amendments are approved, these will be discussed in a bicameral conference between both chambers where they reconcile disagreeing proposals.
Afterwards, the Senate and House of Representatives will again take a three-fourths vote separately on amendments before being presented as a plebiscite to the public. (PNA)
