By Ben Rosario
The House of Representatives unanimously agreed on Wednesday night to remand the proposed Constitution to the committee, thus, paving the way for the naming of the vice president first in the line of succession in case the post of president is left vacant during the transition for the full effectivity of a new Constitution.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
On motion by Rep. Raul del Mar LP, Cebu, the Lower House agreed to return Resolution of Both Houses No. 15 to the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chaired by Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso.
Interposing no objection to the motion, Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. stated that this will allow the House panel to amend Section 4, Article XVII on Transitory Provisions of RBH No. 15.
The original provision states that during the transition for the new Charter, the incumbent Senate President will act as the president in case there is vacancy in the position.
Andaya said that the constitutional amendments panel will delete reference to the Senate President, and will now name the incumbent Vice President as the first choice to act as chief executive should here be a vacancy in the top post during the period of transition.
The House has been smarting from public criticisms for overlooking the vice president as priority in the line of succession for vacancy in the presidential post during the transition for the full effectivity of the new charter.
Critics of president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo quickly blamed her for closing the door on Vice President Leni Robredo to act as president even during the transition period.
Veloso assailed critics, saying that Arroyo had not hand in proposing the questioned provision.
The Leyte lawmaker clarified that the Transitory Provisions of the proposed Constitution reflected the proposals of the PDP-Laban and not of Arroyo.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
On motion by Rep. Raul del Mar LP, Cebu, the Lower House agreed to return Resolution of Both Houses No. 15 to the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chaired by Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso.
Interposing no objection to the motion, Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. stated that this will allow the House panel to amend Section 4, Article XVII on Transitory Provisions of RBH No. 15.
The original provision states that during the transition for the new Charter, the incumbent Senate President will act as the president in case there is vacancy in the position.
Andaya said that the constitutional amendments panel will delete reference to the Senate President, and will now name the incumbent Vice President as the first choice to act as chief executive should here be a vacancy in the top post during the period of transition.
The House has been smarting from public criticisms for overlooking the vice president as priority in the line of succession for vacancy in the presidential post during the transition for the full effectivity of the new charter.
Critics of president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo quickly blamed her for closing the door on Vice President Leni Robredo to act as president even during the transition period.
Veloso assailed critics, saying that Arroyo had not hand in proposing the questioned provision.
The Leyte lawmaker clarified that the Transitory Provisions of the proposed Constitution reflected the proposals of the PDP-Laban and not of Arroyo.