The bone of contention is, of course, Charter change or Cha-cha.
But while almost everyone believes that the Constitution truly needs to be revised or amended, there is a problem in the process, or in how to do it.
Constituent assembly
When the Supreme Court recently struck down in one sweeping blow the gambit to use people’s initiative for Cha-cha, the House did not stop there.
It decided to constitute itself into a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass).
It is a process that is almost similar to one baking one’s cake and eating it, too.
But there is a hitch.
The 1971 charter explicitly stated that a Con-Ass could be constituted if the House and the Senate, voting separately, favor it.
The current Constitution does not say Con-Ass should be constituted under the same process.
Clash of wills
The House, of course, interpreted that to mean that the Senate and the House will vote jointly.
If the House interpretation is given due course, then the Senate might as well not exist under the prevailing circumstance.
This is where the clash of wills emerges.
The House recently passed a resolution amending House Rule 105, which stated that, “proposals to amend or revise the Constitution should follow the process for the enactment of bills or proposed laws.”
The amended rule now provides “that Cha-cha proposals should be in the form of a resolution that may be filed anytime by any House member,” thus effectively denying any intervention from the Senate.
Battle line
As a counter measure and in defense of its traditional right and for the sake of its survival, the Senate closed ranks and, but for two members, signed a resolution condemning the “‘brazen attempt” of the House to circumvent constitutional processes.
According to Senate President Manuel Villar, senators crossed party lines and signed the resolution, thus defining what may be considered as the battle line.
Taking a close look at the prevailing congressional situation, it would be safe to say that, for now, there might be a prolonged conflict between the two legislative powers.
The delay in the formation of a Con-Ass could effectively derail the House leaders’ timetable for Cha-cha.
At the moment, though, the public is suspicious of its true motives.
