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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Villanueva questions Padilla's move to disclose letter asking Senate leaders to tackle Cha-cha  

Villanueva questions Padilla's move to disclose letter asking Senate leaders to tackle Cha-cha  

Published Mar 30, 2023 07:14 am
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said he was surprised about Sen. Robin Padilla’s move to disclose the letters he sent to the Senate leadership pertaining to his appeal to meet with their counterparts in the House of Representatives to discuss Charter change.    Villanueva disclosed this in a press briefing at the Senate on Wednesday, March 29, saying he was surprised the matter was a subject of a press release released by Padilla’s office.   According to the majority leader, all senators have agreed that the measure seeking to amend the economic provisions under the 1987 Constitution would have to undergo the usual legislative procedure.    “I’m not sure about the intention of the press release to disclose the content of the letter. But be that as it may, it was already discussed during the caucus. But I think it was very clear among all of us that it will entail the usual process,” Villanueva told reporters in the interview.    “If the (Senate) Committee on Constitutional Amendments is able to come up with a committee report, and there is enough support from the members of the committee, it will be taken up for plenary deliberations,” he said.   “So it doesn’t change the rules of the Senate. I just wanted to remind everyone that the Senate is a collegial body and we are governed by the rules,” Villanueva stressed.   Villanueva said he also finds it so unfortunate that even during the last hearing that there were invitations sent out to some members of the House, “and yet what was reported in the media was that the Senate and House has already conducted a joint session.”   “If that is the case, how can we apprise another invitation?” he pointed out.    Villanueva said that as a collegial body, the call for a meeting should start “with our leader, our inspirational leader, Sen. Migz (Juan Miguel) Zubiri, our Senate President.   “I thought it was pretty clear during the meeting that we will move as one as mentioned by everyone which is to protect the best interest of our people, and secondary is the protection of our institution,” the senator said. Last Monday, Padilla sent separate letters to Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Villanueva and Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III asking them to respond to House Speaker Martin Romualdez’ call for both chambers to start the discussions on amending the 1987 Constitution.   Padilla has been pushing for Charter change via the constituent assembly (con-ass), while the House of Representatives is seeking to amend the Constitution through a Constitutional convention (Con-con).   
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