The House of Representatives on Tuesday, Dec. 11, passed on third and final reading the resolution proposing amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
The Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 15, or the “Resolution of Both Houses Proposing the Revision of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines,” garnered 224 affirmative votes, 22 negative votes and three abstentions.
Once approved by the Senate and signed by President Duterte, this joint resolution would have the force and effect of a law. There has been no assurance, however, that the Senate will approve the same resolution.
Earlier, some senators said the resolution would be “dead on arrival” at the Senate due to the lack of time to deliberate on it in the 17th Congress.
The Congress will adjourn its session before the week ends and it only has a few months before the mid-term elections in May.
The resolution was passed Tuesday, or two months after it was reverted to the committee on constitutional amendments over the exclusion of the Vice President from the line of succession in the proposed transition government.
The draft federal constitution that is proposed to replace the 1987 Constitution was prepared by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and 21 other lawmakers.
Dissenters included Anak Mindanao Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao, Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher “Kit” Belmonte and Makabayan lawmakers Ariel Casilao, France Castro, Carlos Zarate and Antonio Tinio. (SunStar Philippines)