Leaders of the House of Representatives on Monday said the chamber, under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, would prefer to work with the Senate on proposed economic Charter amendments so these could take effect as soon as possible.
“It is important for us to work with the Senate on this so that we can limit the possible constitutional challenge that RBH 6 and RBH 7 will face,” Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David Suarez told a news briefing.
He was referring to two resolutions pending in the House and the Senate continuing the economic amendment proposals.
“We’re set to approve this (RBH 7) on the third and final reading on Wednesday and I hope that our counterparts in the Senate will find enough time in their hands to approve the same,” Suarez said.
Senator Sonny Angara meanwhile said they will not transmit RBH 6 to the Commission on Elections once approved.
“With due respect, I think the correct procedure in our bicameral system is to transmit any resolutions or bills passed by either House to the other House,” said Angara, chairperson of the subcommittee on the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Code.
He said this is similar to what the House did with previous resolutions. including those dealing with charter change.
The House approved on second reading RBH7, which was transmitted directly to the Comelec.
Angara also said that as per Senate schedules, the hearing for RBH6 will be held after Holy Week.
Since lawmakers are going on their Holy Week break this weekend, Suarez said he looks forward “to the opportunity where both leaders of the House and leaders of the Senate can meet and finally decide on the proper course of action with regards to both RBHs.”
He said the fastest route for the economic amendment proposals is “to get it approved and get it to the Comelec and have the plebiscite in the soonest as possible time.”
House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said it would be better for the Senate to approve RBH 6, the senators’ version of proposed economic Charter amendments, before it is sent to the Comelec.
For his part, Rep. Rodge Gutierrez of 1-RIDER Party-list said it would be better that a case be filed with the Supreme Court once the House passes RBH 7.
He said House approval of the resolution would “be a sufficient trigger for the SC to take cognizance of this case.” Another House member, Malasakit@Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Anthony Golez, said the House has come to a point on its economic Charter reform advocacy “where the next steps can be a lot of steps na possible.”
Also, investors, particularly those from the United States, are excited about the envisioned lifting of foreign ownership and equity restrictions in the Philippine Constitution, Suarez said.
He said the country is hosting “an important delegation from the World Economic Forum” this week.