Robin Padlila asks SC to set oral arguments for Cha-cha petition

Senator Robin Padilla on Wednesday filed a motion asking the Supreme Court to set oral arguments for his petition regarding the voting of Congress on amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

Padilla is the chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes.

"In order to clarify matters in the petition and emphasize certain legal points, petitioner respectfully asks this Honorable Court to set the case for oral arguments at a time and date most convenient to the Honorable Court," he said in his motion.

Last Monday, Padilla asked the High Court for an "authoritative declaration" on whether Congress should vote jointly or separately on amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

He asked the Court to declare on constitutional matters related to Sections 1(1) and 3, Article XVII of the 1987 Constitution.

Section 1(1) of Article XVII provides that any amendment to, or revision of, the 1987 Constitution may be proposed by "The Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its Members." 

On the other hand, Section 3 provides that, "The Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of all its Members, call a constitutional convention, or by a majority vote of all its Members, submit to the electorate the question of calling such a convention."

Meanwhile, the senator said his motion was "filed in good faith and is not intended to delay the proceedings of this case."

Last February, Padilla also filed a resolution seeking separate voting by the two Houses of Congress in amending the Constitution.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, however, has said that the Senate would place proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution on the backburner. — VDV, GMA Integrated News