House leader open to Senate option on con-ass

MANILA, Philippines — A senior administration lawmaker yesterday expressed support for the Senate’s plan to use the constituent assembly (con-ass) mode instead of the House of Representatives-approved constitutional convention (con-con) in revising the 1987 Constitution.

“If the Senate is wary of con-con, why not convene Congress as a con-ass for economic reform?” Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. asked. “Congress will have no control over a con-con. So should we not instead convene as a con-ass?”

Gonzales, representative of Pampanga’s third district, made the move following Speaker Martin Romualdez’s statement that the House is open to discussing with the Senate the mode of changing the Charter’s economic provisions.

Gonzales reiterated his stand to convene Congress as a con-ass to propose changes in the Constitution’s “restrictive” economic provisions.

“I agree with Senate President Miguel Zubiri that a con-con will have plenary powers, including proposing political amendments. Congress will have no control over a con-con,” Gonzales said.

He said a constituent assembly “is the most expeditious, most inexpensive and most controllable manner of proposing Charter amendments.”

“We could agree under a joint resolution to limit the effort to rewriting the economic provisions. I think there is consensus on that in both chambers. Any political amendment proposal will be immediately rejected,” Gonzales said.

He said the two chambers could also agree to conduct separate voting, with each house mustering at least a three-fourths vote on a constitutional amendment proposal as required by the Constitution.

“As for the expenses, these would be minimal since there would be no need for an election, unlike in a con-con, no additional salaries and allowances, no additional personnel. Whatever expenses that may be incurred, we could charge them to our own budget,” he added.

Assistant Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez said it would take only six months for both chambers of Congress to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Gomez said this is doable if the Senate and House of Representatives reach an agreement on how to change the Charter.

“When we were doing public consultations and committee hearings, the timeline we set was only six months. We can do that,” he told “The Chiefs” on Cignal’s OneNews.

Gomez said six months should be enough since there is no need to review the entire Constitution, but only a few economic provisions.

Gomez said they are still waiting for the Senate to come up with its counterpart measure.

“That’s why the voting of both houses is very important. The House and the Senate must vote separately, not jointly. With that, there will be check and balance,” he pointed out. – Sheila Crisostomo