(Eagle News) — Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas on Thursday maintained the House resolution seeking for the convening of Congress into a constitutional assembly to amend the Charter was not railroaded.
In making the statement, Fariñas effectively belied claims made by militant groups such as Gabriela and Bayan Muna about House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) No. 9.
“It is a product of democratic and exhaustive debates not just in the plenary hall of the House of Representatives, in the several committee meetings conducted by the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, but also in nationwide public consultations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” Fariñas said.
He said the House panel’s committee report was filed on February 15, 2017.
He said it was included in the Calendar of Business on March 1, 2017, and was sponsored on December 13, 2017.
“Clearly, this afforded members time to consider the pros and cons of the measure,” Fariñas added.
In fact, he said a second roll call was made during a session the resolution was being debated on.
This was after independent lawmaker Edgar Erice questioned whether there was a quorum at that time.
Over 100–186—lawmakers were listed as present.
“The House members decided it was time to vote on it after hearing the discussions and debates on the measure,” Fariñas said.
Besides, he said based on Section 54 of the House rules, “a motion to close the debate on a measure shall be in order after three speeches in favor and two against, or after only one speech in favor and none against.”
President Rodrigo Duterte has said that there would be a war in Mindanao if federalism and the Bangsamoro Basic Law bids fail.
But the House of Representatives and Senate are in a deadlock as to how Congress should vote to amend the Charter in order to pave the way for federalism in a con-ass.
Some lawmakers are also pushing to amend the Constitution via a constitutional convention.
Under this method, delegates who will debate on the amendments are elected by the people.
