Palace: Con-ass dialogue a logical step toward Cha-cha

While a dialogue between the House of Representatives and the Senate for the convening of a constituent assembly for Charter amendments is a logical step, Malacañang remains neutral over the efforts of the House to seek such dialogue.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the House has apparently achieved the required number of signatures from its members for both chambers to convene into one Charter-amending body.

"I think they’re just following a logical step," Bunye said. "We were informed that they have already accomplished the minimum number of signatures required for them to be able to tackle this in session so I think this (dialogue) is just a continuation of what they perceive to be a logical move to push the revision of the (1987) Constitution."

House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles said he would lead a House delegation that will meet with senators to discuss amending the Constitution through a constituent assembly.

The move came after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) rejected the people’s initiative petition of the Sigaw ng Bayan Movement (SBM) and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) for the poll body to hold a plebiscite for the proposed amendments.

He said the Senate might be more receptive now that Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. has assumed leadership of the Chamber in July, when the 13th Congress began its third and last regular session.

Sen. Edgardo Angara said the Senate is open to a dialogue with the House on the issue of Charter change through a constituent assembly as long as the Senate will be involved in the process of amending the Constitution.

Angara said the House cannot undertake any amendments to the Constitution without the involvement of the Senate. — Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy