LP senators to lead Senate hearing on charter change

THE SENATE will continue its inquiry on charter change, tagged as a legislative priority by the Duterte administration, on the resumption of Congress next week.

It happens that this hearing will be conducted by leaders of the opposition Liberal Party (LP), headed in the Senate by Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon.

Mr. Drilon, however, has also warned that charter change may be impeded by the planned impeachment of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno now being tackled by the impeachment committee in the House of Representatives.

“The timetable must be realistic. The Speaker (Pantaleon D. Alvarez) is talking about a plebiscite in May of 2018, that is four months away. Just looking at the situation ( that seems unlikely) because, right now, they are trying to impeach the Chief Justice,” Mr.. Drilon said in an interview Wednesday e-mailed to the media.

“Based on the statement of Cong( ressman Reynaldo V.) Umali, ( head of the House impeachment committee), the impeachment complaint will be brought to the Senate sometime in April or May. The moment it is transmitted to us, we have no choice but to sit as an impeachment court, and the moment we sit as an impeachment court, goodbye legislative agenda, goodbye federalism, goodbye BBL ( Bangsamoro Basic Law),” the Senate opposition leader also said.

For his part, Mr. Drilon’s ally in the opposition Liberal Party, Senator Franklin N. Pangilinan, said the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, which he heads, will tackle a number of key questions regarding charter change. — with