25 Mayo 2024, Sabado
Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan
Register now and vote in midterm polls
supports International Nurses’ Day
Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024
Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party
Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance
supports May, Cardiac Illness Prevention Month
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
PM for any hospital discharge problem
Chiz seeks to mend House-Senate ties preventing another Cha-cha word war
By Nidz Godino
“It’s not befitting for lawmakers to exchange unparliamentary remarks…we can probably start there before we discuss other issues,” Senate President Chiz Escudero said during Kapihan sa Senado forum even he remains unconvinced about changing Charter, he wants to repair relationship between Senate and House of Representatives to prevent another heated public exchange among lawmakers.
Escudero, whose recent ascension to Senate presidency has been endorsed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will reach out to House Speaker Martin Romualdez soon to address how two chambers can avoid trading barbs even with their disagreements on Charter change.
Newly-installed Senate president envisions himself as leader will serve as “bridge to finding solutions to problems” instead of flip-flopping on his position.
Measure proposing economic amendments to 1987 Constitution was passed on final reading at the House in March, but similar version remains pending at the committee level in Senate, where senators remain divided due to concerns about possible insertions of political amendments.
This, too, remains concern for Escudero, who said years-long difficulty in passing Charter amendments can be attributed to “hidden motives” by its proponents.
“Primary reason why Charter change does not push through or gets delayed is because of people’s doubts about motives behind it, if people are asked directly about whether they are for or against is, I believe this will make it more likely to reach final stage of approval ,” Escudero said.
Future Senate committee hearings tackling Charter change have also been been suspended indefinitely after Sen. Sonny Angara’s resignation as chairperson of Senate subcommittee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, Escudero said.
New Senate president, however, stopped short of saying upper chamber will no longer consider measures related to Charter change. “It’s not for me to say,” Escudero said on May 20.
In January, Senate unanimously expressed its opposition to people’s initiative (PI) signature drive to change Charter, hounded by allegations of bribery and of being orchestrated by lower chamber.
Senators were particularly concerned about how PI sought to amend Constitution to allow all members of Congress to jointly vote on proposed constitutional amendments in constituent assembly. This meant 24-member Senate would be outnumbered by House.
This triggered series of public exchanges between senators and House lawmakers. At one point, House member part of constitutional amendments committee questioned Zubiri’s ability to lead Senate and whether senators were “no longer listening to him.”
Escudero believes Senate’s counterparts in House are aware of independence of both chambers.
Senate’s Resolution of Both Houses 6 proposes amendments to specific economic provisions on public utilities, basic educational institutions, and the advertising industry.
ISKUP! 