Voting 224-22-3, the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a resolution that amends the 1987 Constitution to effect President Duterte’s proposed shift to a federal form of government.
Resolution of Both Houses 15 (RBH 15), or the draft federal charter, was approved in plenary session with Deputy Speaker and Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero as the presiding speaker.
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said the passage of the federal charter was a priority, but Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, who voted against it, said rewriting the Constitution should involve “people’s participation” and said federalism would not solve the country’s pressing problems but would divide the nation.
The House-approved resolution will be transmitted to the Senate through the House’s Office of the secretary general.
The approved draft resolution includes lifting term limits of legislators and local officials.
Rep. Vicente Veloso of Leyte, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, said the congressmen were unanimous in approving the lifting of term limits.
Under the House’ draft constitution, the president and vice president will be elected with each other to serve four-year terms, subject to one reelection.
The approved resolution also provides that lawmakers, who must be holders of college degrees, will also serve four-year terms.
The proposal states that the first election under the proposed Constitution will be held on the second Monday of May 2022.
The proposal, which calls for a presidential-bicameral-federal system, is different from the draft charter submitted by the Consultative Commission organized by Duterte.
Veloso, a former Court of Appeals associate justice, said the House may file a petition with the Supreme Court to compel the senators to act on the measure if they do not.