Bohol solons go for Cha-cha

The petition of Third District Rep. Adam Relson Jala for the two chambers of congress to vote jointly on constitutional amendments may have been junked by the Supreme Court but is fast gaining support among fellow congressmen.
As early as Thursday, a resolution to convene the Senate and the House of Representatives into a constituent assembly has been quietly passed around for signatures of congressmen.
Latest reports reveal that some 160 solons have already signed the measure to jumpstart amendments to the Philippine Constitution.
Rep. Edgar Chatto and Rep. Roberto Cajes confirmed to the Chronicle yesterday they both signed the proposed resolution in their desire to let the Supreme Court rule on the issue of whether it would call for a separate or joint voting.
Jala, who delievered his privilege speech at the resumption of session last Nov. 10 admitted in an interview over Station dyRD that he was one of the first to sign the resolution last week.
“There’s a movement in the House wherein there is a resolution being passed where we are trying to adopt the joint voting interpretation so that we could have, 198 signatures for the petition, in order for us to propose amendments to the Constitution,” Jala explained.
The target number of signatures is three-fourths of the combined total of the members of the House, which is 238, and the Senate, which is 24, but minus former Senator Alfredo Lim who is now Manila mayor.
The Constitution provides that a three-fourths vote is necessary for both Houses to convene as a constituent assembly and to amend the Charter.
The 29-year old Jala, however said, there is no finality yet on this call for a charter change as it will still be submitted to the people for ratification in a plebiscite.
"I was 7 years old when the 1987 Constitution was ratified," Jala cited while saying, this 20-year old Constitution is no longer representative of the greater majority of this generation."
The fresh law graduate who joined politics right after passing the bar said amending the Constitution is the "greatest power inherent on the people, even greater than electing our public officials."
He said that the proposed resolution now gaining grounds in Congress specified that it will not allow the extension of term of the President and Vice President and that it ensures elections in 2010.
Jala had filed a petition for the Supreme Court to decide on whether both houses should vote separately or jointly on the issue but the court discarded his petition saying it was premature.
“With this movement calling for charter amendments, the urgency to resolve the issue on wherther its joint or separate voting can finally be ruled by the Supreme Court which is the final arbiter of constitutional issues,” Jala said.
Most constitutionalists have said the vote should be done separately since all bills and other legislative measures, such as the budget, are decided by both houses separately.
But if the present House resolution eventually brings the issue to the Supreme Court, political observers say that it may be granted considering majority of the justices are already appointees of Pres. Gloria Arroyo.
This recent move calling for a Charter Change is met with strong objection in the Senate.
Sen. Mar Roxas called on Pres. Arroyo to stop her son, Pampanga Rep. Juan miguel "Mickey" Arroyo and other allies in the House from proceeding to push a constituent assembly (Con-ass) as a means to amend the Constitution.
IDENTICAL STAND
The 3 Bohol solons have identical stand on calling for a charter change.
Rep. Chatto, for his part, said he signed the proposed resolution as it is only way that the Supreme Court will rule on the issue of whether its a joint or separate voting. There has to be a justiceable controversy so for the High Tribunal to rule on the matter, Chatto said.
He said a Supreme Court ruling against joint voting paves the way to a Constitutional Convention as the only acceptable mode, instead of a constituent assembly.
Rep. Cajes, in a separate interview said that while he is for a charter change, it would limit to the economic provisions of the Constitution, minus the political issues and concerns.
The last termer solon likewise said its about time to amend the Constitution. If a Constitutional Convention will be called, it would be simultanoues with the 2010 election, he forecast.
Cajes cited that even the framers of the 1987 Constituion have admitted there was an ommission for the proper appreciation on the manner of voting which they thought would be a unicameral body, when it is bicameral.
The forthcoming House resolution will create the "controversy" which is a pre-requisite for the Supreme Court to promulgate its ruling on the matter, he concluded.