SENATE NOT IN THE MOOD FOR CHACHA NOW-VILLAR
22 senators sign up anti Con-Ass Resolution

The Senate reaffirmed its stand on the controversial Charter change issue by coming out with a resolution condemning the move by the House of Representatives to have a Senate-less constituent assembly or Con-Ass to amend the Constitution, and calling it unconstitutional.

The senators firm position is embodied in Senate Resolution 599, which as of today, has been signed by 22 senators.

Senate President Manny Villar, President of Nacionalista Party, reiterated that the proposal to amend the Constitution is not in the list of measures being prioritized by the Senate.

Villar stressed, however, that the Senate will conduct extensive public consultations to get the true sentiment of the people with regard to the issue of whether or not the 1987 Constitution should be amended, what the amendments would be, and what mode these proposed changes should be carried out.

Pakikinggan po ng Senado ang sentimyento ng taumbayan, sapagkat sila ang ikinakatawan ng mga senador. Hindi pwedeng laktawan ng Senado ang damdamin ng tao tungkol sa Chacha at ito ang ating pag-uukulan ng pansin sa ngayon, Villar said.

He announced that the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon convened yesterday to resume its public hearings on Chacha.

In defense of the Constitution, the senators have signed a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that any attempt by the House to unilaterally propose amendments to, or revision of, the Constitution without the approval by three-fourths of the Senate voting separately is unconstitutional, Villar stressed.

Villar reiterated that the Senate would not give an inch to the house-imposed 72 hours deadline for the Senate to adopt a resolution calling for a Constitutional Convention.

Nobody can pressure the Senate. Hindi kami nakikipag-away sa kamara pero dapat nating isipin lagi ang damdamin ng taumbayan lalo na sa pinkamahalagang hakbangin na ito na pagbabago ng saligang batas, Villar said.