House Supports Resolution on Voting Method for Cha-Cha

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the House of Representatives are expressing support for a resolution aimed at clarifying whether the two chambers of Congress should vote jointly or separately on proposed constitutional amendments.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez addressed the issue during an ambush interview on Monday, following Senator Robin Padilla's filing of a petition with the Supreme Court regarding this matter.

While Romualdez acknowledged the support from various House members, he opted to withhold further comments until the Supreme Court provides its ruling. “I think there’s considerable backing from many House members, but I prefer to hold off on any commentary since the matter is now with the courts,” he stated. He emphasized the need to respect the legal process and not preempt the court's decision.

Padilla's petition seeks clarity on how Congress should approach voting for constitutional reforms, as stipulated in Article XVII, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, which requires a three-fourths vote from all members of Congress to propose amendments.

The confusion lies in whether the Senate and House will vote separately or together. Historically, senators have opposed joint voting, fearing it would marginalize their influence, given that 24 senators would be outnumbered by over 300 House members.

Despite this, many lawmakers, including those from the opposition, advocate for joint voting. Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman argued that the framers of the Constitution intended for a unicameral Congress, which supports the idea of joint voting.

In a related discussion, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Vicente Mendoza highlighted the need for amendments to the 1987 Constitution, citing its vagueness regarding procedural guidelines for constitutional changes. Mendoza pointed out that the Constitution does not clearly outline how amendments should be enacted.