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PIMENTEL DOWNPLAYS SANTIAGO’S CHANGE OF HEART ON CHARTER CHANGE
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) today downplayed
the impact of the stand of Senator Miriam Santiago in favor of participating
in the administration-initiated Constituent Assembly that would amend the
Constitution.
“We respect Miriam’s change of opinion. The debate will now be more
interesting,” Pimentel said.
He noted that Santiago’s support for Charter Change is premised on the
condition that the Supreme Court will declare that it will be constitutional
for both the Senate and House of Representatives to vote jointly, instead of
separately, on every proposed amendment.
Pimentel expressed the hope that the position of administration congressmen,
led by Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. that both chambers of Congress must vote
as one on every amendment will be rejected by the Supreme Court on the basis
of the provisions of the Constitution and the intent of the framers of the
Constitution.
He said the transcripts of the deliberations of the 1986 Constitutional
Commission, which drafted the 1987 Charter, would bear out the fact that it
was never the intention of the Commission that any amendment can be voted
upon by the Senate and House voting jointly.
Pimentel said it is an elementary rule that as a bicameral body, Congress
through its two houses, should vote separately on every legislative measure,
whether it be on the changing of the name of a province or town or the
national budget.
He said to depart from this rule will not be in conformity with the
Constitution.
Pimentel said he is glad that Santiago has not altered her stand that it
will be unconstitutional to amend the Constitution by people’s initiative in
the absence of an adequate enabling law.
The 1997 ruling of the Supreme Court on the Santiago vs. Comelec case
remains the same. Charter Change through people’s initiative is illegal
because there is no law that allows it.”
Date: May 12, 2006
Ref: Omeng / (02) 5526731
http://www.nenepimentel.org |
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