Ejercito: Senate to deliberate on reso amending Charter's economic provisions

The Senate will convene the Committee of the Whole to push through with the deliberations of the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 which proposes amendments to certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito disclosed Monday.

“We will push through with what was agreed upon. Again, naka-schedule na yata, Committee [of] the Whole na yata would hear already itong [constitutional] amendments on economic provisions, RBH 6, I think scheduled supposedly this Wednesday,” Ejercito told reporters in a press conference.

The committee of the whole will be presided over by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, he added.

Ejercito's disclosure comes a few days after his colleagues said RBH 6 was sidelined because of the continuous push for the people’s initiative which they believed was initiated by the House of Representatives.

“I think, after the meeting with the President (Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.). At least, ang sabi namin, on our part, we will do what was agreed upon. Itutuloy natin. Kung hindi nila ituloy sa House ang pag-adopt, then sila po ang hindi tumupad,” he said.

An all-senator caucus will be held later today to finalize their plans on RBH 6 deliberations, according to Ejercito.

"That will be discussed in our caucus. Dahil nga fluid ang situation, medyo madalas kaming nagka-caucus. Isipin mo we are on our second week, lahat to nade-derail kahit papaano naapektuhan because of what is happening. Nakakapanghinayang eh. We are wasting a lot of time," Ejercito said.

"I-recall na lang at itigil ang people's initiative. Palagay ko andaming oras na nasasayang," he added.

Two weeks ago, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Speaker Martin Romualdez, and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reportedly agreed to halt the ongoing people’s initiative and let the Senate lead the discussions on the proposed amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Zubiri and two senior senators then filed RBH 6 to start the effort to amend the charter. Romualdez expressed support for this.

However, the senators decided to sideline its deliberation on the resolution as they observed that the people’s initiative was still pushing through.

The Senate then issued a manifesto in which senators rejected the ongoing people's initiative gathering signatures for the proposed amendment on Congress voting "jointly" for Cha-cha.

"This so-called 'people's' initiative (PI) proposes only one change: in acting as a constituent assembly, the Senate and the House shall vote jointly," the Senate said.

"While it seems simple, the goal is apparent to make it easier to revise the Constitution by eliminating the Senate from the equation. It is an obvious prelude to further amendments, revisions, or even an overhaul of our entire Constitution," it added.

Some senators, including Senator Imee Marcos, pointed to her cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, as the person behind the people's initiative.

Romualdez meanwhile on Friday said that instead of criticizing the House, the Senate should address its supposed failure to approve the Marcos administration's priority legislation.

"Tapos na ang trabaho ng House of Representatives. Tapos na lahat ng assignment. Iyong senador, hindi pa tapos. Tapusin niyo ang trabaho niyo. Naghihintay ang mga Pilipino. Kadugay (you're slow)," Romualdez said.

"Wala kayong pakialam sa PI (people's initiative)," Romualdez added. "Trabaho 'yan ng taumbayan. Ang Congress at senator, ang trabaho, legislation. PI is a power of the people. [You senators should] buckle down to work. There are only 24 of you, get your act together. Focus on your work. Stop hitting Congress and maintain parliamentary courtesy." — DVM, GMA Integrated News