Zubiri warns of ‘legislative stalemate’ as Senate, House yet to agree on Cha-cha

Senator Miguel Zubiri on Monday warned of a possible “legislative stalemate” as leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives have yet to agree on how to pursue Charter change (Cha-cha).

Zubiri, who earlier called for a legislative summit among Congress leaders, called on senators and House members to “tone down the hurtful words” from both sides.

“Dapat matigil na yan, dapat magkaroon ng isang dialogue…We’re hoping we can tone down the rhetoric,” Zubiri said in an interview.

“Ganito mangyayari diyan, even the legislative agenda might suffer,” Zubiri warned as he recalled what happened during the time of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

He said senators and House members may decide on not acting on bills filed by each other’s counterparts if the ‘word war’ over Cha-cha continues.

“Ayoko naman mangyari na sa galit nila, sa galit ng mga kasamahan ko, baka yung mga pet bills ng mga kongresista ay biglang tumagal at inupuan. Ayoko naman mangyari yun; at yung mga pet bills din naming mga senador ay maupuan,” Zubiri said.

“Yan ang pinaka-pangit. We’ll have a legislative stalemate and who will suffer? The Filipino people. Why will make the Filipino people suffer?” he added.

Zubiri said the lawmakers should remember to extend inter-parliamentary courtesy to each other.

On Sunday, House committee on constitutional amendments vice chairman Vicente “Ching” Veloso said the Senate could just be a training ground for the presidency if the draft federal charter is approved.

President Rodrigo Duterte and his political party, PDP-Laban, have been actively pushing for Cha-cha to pave the way for federalism.

The House of Representatives has already passed a resolution to constitute both houses of Congress as a constituent assembly for Cha-cha. The Senate, however, has chosen to boycott the House proceedings as they insist on separate voting for Cha-cha. — RSJ, GMA News