Statements

On Charter Change 2024

Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on efforts to amend the Constitution in 2024:

February 23, 2024: I hope this formula will work, but at least three issues need to be resolved:

First, the manner of voting as a bicameral body to reconcile the conflicting provisions – is it by 3/4 votes of the entire membership, or 3/4 of the members of each house?

Second, as in the budget bicam as well as in ordinary bills, insertions are still made, what is the assurance that additional revisions and/or amendments will not be inserted to reconcile the disagreeing provisions?

Third, will the bicameral body be composed of mere representatives of both chambers or a committee of the whole from each chamber?

January 10, 2023: People’s Initiative, as the term implies, is the most democratic mode to amend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. It is paradoxically undemocratic to resort to bribing the people to take that initiative.

January 10, 2023: In 1997, the SC ruled that RA 6735 is inadequate (Defensor-Santiago vs Comelec, GR No 12735) in the Raul Lambino sponsored People’s Initiative. That said, the P.I. proponents have no legal ground to stand on sans legislation by the present Congress. Paging SP Migz/senators.