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Escudero-Romualdez meeting set tentatively on Thursday


The meeting between newly-installed Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez along with other Congress leaders is tentatively set on Thursday.

This would be the first formal meeting between the new Senate leadership and their House counterparts.

"Tentative pa lamang itong darating na Huwebes pero hindi pa napa-finalize kung available nga ba ang lahat dahil marami-rami 'yung makikipagpulong sa panig nila at sa panig namin," Escudero said in an ambush interview Monday.

(We have set the meeting tentatively on Thursday, but that is not final if everyone is available on that day because many senators and congressmen are eyeing to attend that meeting.)

He said they will discuss their respective legislative agenda and the upcoming Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting which is scheduled on June 25.

Asked if there are bills that will be laid down on the said meeting, Escudero said, "Inaayos pa lamang ngayon. Mas mamabutihin kong mapag-usapan 'yon d'on (We are still sorting it out. I would rather discuss it there)."

He added that they are open to any suggestions that will be raised during the meeting.

In a previous interview, Escudero said he is sure that controversial measures, particularly Charter change and the bill on divorce will be discussed during the said meeting.

Last Tuesday, Romualdez said he has discussed with Escudero the passage of some priority measures. but Cha-cha remains off the table for now.

Resolution of Both Houses 6 (RBH 6) and Resolution of Both Houses 7 (RBH 7) seek to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution by allowing more foreign ownership in vital industries such as education, advertising, and public utilities.

RBH 6, however, provides for separate voting for the House and the Senate in a constituent assembly, while RBH 7 provides for voting of all members of Congress.

Escudero, who was elected Senate president more than a week ago after a swift coup that ousted Senator Miguel Zubiri, has said that he remains against Cha-cha because of contrasting provisions provided for in the proposals in terms of voting on constitutional amendments.

The House approved RBH 7 in March, but the same initiative did not even reach sub-committee approval under Zubiri.—AOL, GMA Integrated News