Filipino people, not lawmakers, will decide on economic charter amendments

The fate of the constitutional amendments seeking to improve the investment climate in the country against the backdrop of an ailing economy battered by the ongoing pandemic will be decided by the Filipino people, and not by the members of the Senate or the House of Representatives.

This was among the points highlighted during the ongoing plenary debates on Resolution of Both Houses Number 2 (RBH 2), as the chamber’s lawyers took centerstage, with House Committee on Constitutional Amendments and AKO BICOL Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin, Jr. addressing several issues raised by Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate and Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla.

In response to questions from Remulla, Garbin said that while the Constitution grants Congress the right to propose amendments, “it is the people who have the power to ratify.”

Remulla agreed and stressed that “ang trabaho ng Kongreso ay mag-propose ng amendments at ang boboto nito, ang magdedesisyon ay taumbayan.”

According to Garbin, this precept “is based on their power of ratification and based on the principle that sovereignty resides in the people and all government authorities emanate from them.”

Remulla had earlier expressed apprehensions that the inaction of Senate on proposals to amend the Constitution would be tantamount to senators unilaterally deciding on the fate of the economic Charter amendments.

“Sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa, ilang presidente na ang nagsabi na kailangan palitan, baguhin ang ilang kataga ng Saligang Batas ngunit kahit kailan, panahon ni Pangulong Ramos gusto niyang palitan ang Saligang Batas hindi pumayag ang Senado, wala nang nangyari,” lamented Remulla.

Remulla further pointed out that proposals to amend the Constitution were also discussed during the terms of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and President Benigno Aquino III, but these were also not acted on by the Senate.

Zarate for his part was wary that unlike the House, “some political amendments can be discussed and even proposed in the Senate.”

“I fully understand your apprehension pero hindi naman po natin pwedeng diktahan iyong proceedings doon sa Senado,” answered Garbin.

Garbin emphasized that “tayo lamang po dito, ang pag-uusapan natin ang ating proceedings dito sa panukalang pag-amyenda sa ating Konstitusyon at nakatutok lamang po tayo sa restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution.”

“So, premature pa na i-preempt natin ang kanilang aksyon doon sa Senado.”