Padilla seeks separate Senate committee reports on con-ass, Con-con

Senator Robin Padilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, plans to release two committee reports on the measures seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution.

In an online interview, Padilla said he will issue a committee report on the Resolution of Both House No. 3, which he filed to amend the Constitution’s so-called restrictive economic provisions through a constituent assembly (con-ass).

He will issue a separate report on the House-approved Resolution of Both Houses which calls for a Constitutional convention (Con-con) to amend the charter.

“Mayron po ngayong dumating galing sa House na Resolution of Both House, nagpadala po sila, na in-address po ng ating Senate President sa committee ko. Usually, pwede ko itong… Pwede mo tong tulugan, pero ayaw ko po yun,” Padilla said.

(A Resolution of Both Houses arrived from the House today, they sent it, that the Senate President sent to my committee. Usually, I could just not act on it. But I don't like that.)

“Ayokong isipin ng Congress na si Senator Robin Padilla hinarang kami. Ayoko noon. Hindi ko gusto yoon. Mas maganda sa akin na pinadala nila sa Senado yung kanilang resolution, kaya gusto ko dumaan ito sa proseso para wala silang masabi,” he added.

(I don't want Congress to think that Senator Robin Padilla blocked them. I don't want that. I don't like it. I appreciate that they sent the resolution to the Senate. That's why I would rather have this go through the process to avoid hurt feelings.)

Padilla is set to hold a hearing on the House-approved Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 and House Bill 7352 or the implementing resolution of RBH No. 6 next week.

Among the resource persons that are expected to attend is House Constitutional Amendments Committee Chairperson Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro.

With this, Padilla expected the lower house to act on his version of the measure amending the constitution.

“Ayoko ding mangyari na hindi nila aksyunan.. Sana naman po i-adopt nila sa Congress. Gawin po natin ang mga trabaho natin. Kamutin mo yung likod ko, kakamutin ko yung likod niyo,” he said.

(I wouldn't want them not to act on our resolution... I hope Congress adopts it. Let's all do our jobs. You scratch my back, I scratch yours.)

On Thursday, Padilla's panel wrapped up its public consultation on RBH No. 3. The Senate committee conducted hearings in Davao City, Cebu City, and Baguio City.

Senator Robin Padilla is expecting his party mates in PDP-Laban to fully support his moves to push for 1987 Constitution amendments.

“Kasi bilang bise presidente ng PDP-Laban at ‘yun ang tinatayuan ko at ‘yun ang adhikain ng partido--hindi ko kailangan hingin ang suporta mo, dapat automatic ang suporta mo. Ganoon din naman, kapag may mga panukala sila, automatic ang aking suporta basta may kinalaman sa adhikain ng PDP-Laban,” Padilla said in an online interview when asked if he would woo his partymates to back his charter change efforts.

(As the vice president of PDP-Laban, I don’t need to seek the support of my party mates. That should come automatically. The same support will be given if my party mates will push their measures as long as it’s in line with the party’s advocacies.)

Padilla explained that he decided to join a political party because he wanted to contribute to the strengthening of the party system in the country.

“Kung ang party system sa Pilipinas ay magiging bolahan lang e magiging independent na lang po ako... kaya may partido ibig sabihin kayo ay nagkakaisa. Kung ako mismo sa partido kailangan pa kong manligaw ng kapartido ko, malabo yata yon... ang kapartido ko dapat lagi kong kasama lalo na usapin ng charter change,” he said.

(If the party system was nothing more than cheap tricks, I'd rather be an independent. The reason there are political parties means that you are all of the same minds. If I have to convince my party mates, that would be odd. A party mate should back me especially when we're talking about charter change.)

Asked about Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s statement saying he would support the proposed amendments to the constitution if a majority of the senators would agree to it, Padilla said this might still change once PDP-Laban expressed its full support for Cha-cha.

“Wala po tayong magagawa dahil wala pa namang order sa kanya ang partido. Pero siyempre po, maiiba po lahat yan kapag may order na ang partido,” he said.

(There's nothing we can do about that as there were no orders from the party. Of course, that will all change once the party issues orders.)

“Dito po natin masusubukan kung totoo ba ang party system sa Pilipinas. Kung handa na ba tayong maging mature sa politics,” he added.

(Through this issue, we can test if there is a party system in the Philippines. We can see if we can be mature in politics.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News