House Speaker Prospero Nograles said he will take advantage of the congressional recess to consult with leaders of both Chambers of Congress -- the House of Representatives and the Senate -- and other sectors to get a clear picture on what to do next after the controversial approval of House Resolution 1109 which calls for the convening of a Constituent assembly (Con-ass).
Frankly, he said, even members of the Lower Chamber "are still in legal disagreement among ourselves as to the procedures to follow after approval of House Resolution 1109. I therefore need to clear the air as to legal procedure."
Nograles said he would consult with House and Senate leaders and concerned sectors to get a clear picture of what to do next.
Nograles said he would consult with House and Senate leaders and concerned sectors to get a clear picture of what to do next.
He however lamented the "precocious" and "exaggerated" reaction of some political and even religious personalities "who are instigating public protests" as he pointed out that when the Senate approved a resolution calling to amend the Constitution by revising the present presidential system of government to federal system, "these personalities were eerily quiet and unconcerned."
He said "When the Senate approved Joint Congressional Resolution 10 which proposes to change the present system of government to federal system, even the so-called civil society, our church leaders and the traditionally noisy political personalities are nowhere in sight.
These personalities were eerily quiet and unconcerned when, in fact, the Joint Congressional Resolution has the same purpose which is to amend the Constitution and it was overwhelmingly signed by 15 Senators. Is it because the House is an administration ally?"
Instead of wasting their time creating monstrous traffic gridlocks because of their planned anti-Charter change (Cha-cha) protests, Nograles said those who are questioning HR 1109 should just bring their case to the Supreme Court.
Instead of wasting their time creating monstrous traffic gridlocks because of their planned anti-Charter change (Cha-cha) protests, Nograles said those who are questioning HR 1109 should just bring their case to the Supreme Court.
"This anti-Cha-cha protests will go on forever in the Philippines because even while we all agree that we need to amend the Constitution, partisan politics always gets in the way," he said.
"Some of the people who are instigating these protests are the very same people who are staunchly defending Cha-cha when they were the ones who are still in power. When will this end?" Nograles lamented as he appealed to the High Tribunal to step in and give a clear interpretation of the gray areas in the Constitution, particularly its provision on the modes of amending the Constitution.
The Speaker also clarified that the approval of HR 1109 does not mean that the House can already convene itself into Constituent assembly contrary to earlier pronouncement from some of his colleagues that Con-ass would be convened when Congress resumes session on July 27. "I am not going to convene anything until the legal procedure (on Con-ass) has been threshed out," he said.
