Sotto’s hybrid Cha-cha mode unconstitutional – lawmakers

Opposition members of the House of Representatives yesterday ridiculed the proposal of Senate President Vicente Sotto lll for a hybrid Charter change (Cha-cha) mode, calling it unconstitutional.

“This proposal has no constitutional basis. I don’t know where he’s getting this idea of changing the Charter through a mode that is alien even to Wanbol University,” Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said, referring to the fictional setting that the senator, his brother Vic and comedian Joey de Leon made popular on television.

The Senate head’s proposal calls for convening an assembly composed of 12 senators, 12 House members, 12 appointees of President Duterte and 12 civil society nominees, to recommend amendments to the Constitution.

Sotto claimed that this hybrid would avoid a confrontation between the Senate and the House over Cha-cha.

House leaders earlier had vowed to do Cha-cha by themselves while senators insisted on their participation and without the two chambers voting separately.

Erice’s opposition colleague Gary Alejano of party-list Magdalo said Sotto’s hybrid is not among the modes for proposing changes in the Constitution.

He reminded the senator that the Charter provides for only three modes: a constitutional convention, a constituent assembly, which is Congress itself proposing amendments, and a direct proposition and vote by the people.

Reps. Tom Villarin of party-list Akbayan, Antonio Tinio of partylist Alliance of Concerned Teachers and Teodoro Baguilat Jr. of Ifugao also criticized Sotto’s proposal.