Admits passing Cha-cha in Senate likely ‘farfetched’
Senate President Francis Escudero said he will have a dialog with Speaker Martin Romualdez in the coming days to “mend what needs to be mended” amid the difference in position of two chambers of Congress on the push to amend the 1987 Constitution.
“I thank Speaker Romualdez for being gentle with his words as far as respecting the Senate’s prerogatives are concerned,” Escudero said in a news forum yesterday.
“I expect to meet with him soon during the break to discuss the relationship, mending what needs to be mended and establishing rules and protocols on how to coordinate with respect to what they are pushing for and with respect to what the Senate is pushing for, and to be able to coordinate and avoid misunderstandings or any miscommunications,” he added.
Escudero remained firm on his position on the Charter change push, as well as in rejecting a joint vote of the two chambers as it would put the 24-strong Senate at a disadvantage.
He said passing the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 – the Senate version of the economic Charter change proposals – seems “farfetched.”
Asked if he would be honest with Romualdez on the fate of Charter change in the Senate, Escudero said: “It is more difficult to promise something you cannot deliver.”
“Raising false hopes, I believe, is by far a bigger sin or a crime than just simply saying ‘no,’” Escudero added.
Escudero earlier said all hearings on Charter amendments are canceled as of now.
“We will not hold any such hearing – outside of Metro Manila or even inside the Senate. We will formally make our decision as a group and as a Senate with respect to this,” he said.
The House of Representatives approved in March its own version – RBH No. 7.
The proposed House and Senate changes are on the grant of legislative franchises to and ownership (60-40) of public utilities in Article XII, the administration and control of basic educational facilities in Article XIV and ownership of advertising firms (70-30) in Article XVI.
Escudero said he hopes there would no longer be “unparliamentary” exchanges between the House and the Senate.
“It is not for lawmakers to utter unparliamentary remarks. We have to start there before we discuss other things,” he said.
The House leadership earlier said it is looking forward to a “more harmonious” working relationship with the Senate under the stewardship of Escudero.
In a press conference on Tuesday, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe emphasized the importance of aligning legislative priorities to fulfill the commitments outlined in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
“We look forward to the relationship of the House and the Senate under the leadership of Senate President Chiz Escudero and Speaker Martin Romualdez that I think will be more harmonious. We can work closely together and I think the senators are also very eager to finish the other priority measures agreed upon in the LEDAC,” Dalipe said.
“I am very optimistic that with this new leadership in the Senate, Senate President Chiz will be unifying. I am optimistic that he will also push for economic reforms needed in the Constitution,” he added.