Business World

House wants to work with Senate on ‘Cha-cha’

- — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

THE HOUSE of Representa­tives wants to work with senators on proposed constituti­onal amendments to minimize legal challenges, a congressma­n said on Monday.

“It is important for us to work with the Senate on this so that we can limit the possible constituti­onal challenges that Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 and No. 7 will face,” Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David C. Suarez told a news briefing.

The House expects critics to question the validity of Charter change at the Supreme Court.

Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo L. Gutierrez said they expect critics to question the process used by the House in lifting foreign ownership limits in the 1987 Constituti­on. “There is always a question of procedure and we’ve always said that,” he told the same briefing.

Congressme­n have introduced changes to the Charter by treating it like a regular House bill. The House is expected to approve it on final reading before it goes on a monthlong break this week after passing it on second reading last week.

There is also the question about whether constituti­onal amendments should be approved by the Senate and House voting separately or as one body.

The Senate has issued a manifesto saying it would not let the House dilute its Charter change (“Cha-cha”) vote by insisting on the entire Congress voting as one body.

“Because this hasn’t been experience­d before, there are many questions regarding the legal process,” Mr. Suarez said. “I hope that our counterpar­ts in the Senate will find enough time on their hands to approve the same.”

Congress will go on a break from March 23 to April 28.

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