The House Committee on Constitutional Reforms yesterday voted to adopt the proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution by convening Congress into a constituent assembly.
After just two settings of deliberations, the House panel chaired by Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado, registered a vote of 32 for and seven against to approve a motion by Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia to choose constituent assembly as the mode of amending the charter and consolidate all similar legislative measures into a concurrent resolution that will be endorsed for plenary approval.
“It is my humble opinion that as representatives of their districts, members should be given the trust and confidence by our people to provide amendments and revision of the Constitution. On that note, I request the secretariat to prepare the committee report,” said Mercado.
Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, a principal author of the constituent assembly proposal, said the Lower House shall take into consideration a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the contention that the two chambers of Congress will vote separately on Charter provisions that will be amended. (Ben Rosario)
