Congress will achieve 3/4 vote in con-ass even without senators, Alvarez says

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is confident the Congress, convening in a constituent assembly, will achieve the three-fourths vote of all its members even without the senators.

Alvarez made the remark on Wednesday afternoon after all senators, in an informal caucus, have agreed that charter change (Cha-cha) should be done through separate voting.

In a radio interview, Alvarez said it is hard to believe that not a single senator is in favor of a joint constituent assembly.

"Well isipin mo, 22 'yan. Imposible namang walang kahit isa diyan ang sasang-ayon," he said.

Alvarez admitted, however, that no senator has talked to him yet expressing support for the joint constituent assembly, because "it's still too early."

He also said that while Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, as the president of the PDP-Laban party that advocates federalism, may likely support the joint constituent assembly, he does not need to bring all the senators with him.

"Basta kami [sa House] tuloy-tuloy lang kami sa trabaho namin dito. We will satisfy the three-fourths of all the members na requirement ng ating Saligang Batas," he said.

"Tuloy-tuloy lang po kami dito tutal meron namang Supreme Court para magdesisyon kung tama kami o mali," he added.

Senator Panfilo Lacson has authored a resolution constituting the Senate as con-ass separate from the House of Representatives for the purpose of Cha-cha.

Alvarez said there is nothing wrong with Lacson's resolution, but only if it satisfies the requirement in the Constitution.

"Okay naman 'yon. Igagalang ko kung meron silang three-fourths of all the members of Congress. Kaya lang 22. Paano natin bibilangin 'yung three-fourth doon?" he said.

"Of all members. Kasama 'yung 290-plus diyan [na congressmen]," he pointed out.

Alvarez maintained that while he respects the position of the Senate, the provision in the Constitution must still be recognized.

"Kasi para sa akin, malinaw naman ang sabi ng ating Saligang Batas na three-fourths of all the members of the Congress. So, ibig sabihin ay of all the members, pare-pareho kami ng boto lalong-lalo na dahil itong ating inaamyendahan ay Saligang Batas," he said.

"Kami ay representatives ng mga tao. We are the nearest link doon sa mga tao kaya naman bakit naman magkakaroon ng mas mabigat na boto 'yung mga senador kaysa sa mga congressman? Kung tutuusin nga, dapat pantay-pantay tayo ng boto. Tapos i-submit natin 'yan sa taumbayan para doon sa plebisito. Kung ito ay aaprubahan ng taumbayan, 'di tapos na tayo, ‘di ba?" he added.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 9, seeking to convene Congress into a constituent assembly to propose amendments to the Constitution. —KG, GMA News