Lagman, Gonzales clash over Cha-cha rules

MANILA, Philippines — While Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman has maintained that the House of Representatives and the Senate should convene jointly to amend provisions in the 1987 Constitution, Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II pointed out that it is merely one interpretation of the rules.

Lagman, at the start of the committee of the whole hearings on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7 on Monday, asked if the House of Representatives and the Senate would still convene once both chambers ratify a final version of the resolution.

“Consequently, Mr. Chairman, once this is passed by the House and concurred in by the Senate, the Senate and the House will meet as a constituent assembly to eventually propose the amendments for ratification or rejection by the people in a proper plebiscite.  Is that correct?” Lagman asked.

Gonzales, who is the floor leader for the proceedings, responded by saying that it might not be the case because the House and the Senate are already exercising their constitutional mandate of proposing amendments to the Constitution, and would eventually vote separately regarding the ratification of the resolutions.

This means that after both Houses ratify the final version of the House RBH No. 7 and the Senate RBH No. 6, it would be sent to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) which will prepare a plebiscite on the matter. “That is not exactly the position Mr. Speaker, because our view is that we are exercising separately the powers granted by the Constitution, which is we vote by at least three-fourths of all the members separately and then once we have

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