By Junex Doronio
MANILA — To resolve the deadlock between the Senate and the House of Representatives on the issue of economic charter change (Cha-Cha), former Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Friday (16 Feb 2024) said only the Supreme Court can serve as the final arbiter.
Carpio also said he’s in favor of the Senate and the House of Representatives voting separately, saying this was the exact “formula” of the late Fr. Joaquin Bernas, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution.
“The Senate will vote separately, ¾ vote to pass the resolution, tsaka ‘yung House will meet separately to pass the resolution by ¾ votes. Pag may conflict sa resolution nila, mag-mi-meet sila, parang bicam, then pag nag-agree na sila, the Senate and House will approve again by ¾ vote,” Carpio said in a Teleradyo Serbisyo interview.
“Ito yung formula na Fr. Bernas at sang-ayon ako dyan,” the retired SC magistrate explained.
He noted that the Senate doesn’t like to meet with the House of Representatives.
“Kasi ngayon, ayaw mag-meet ng Senate with the House, physically. This is the solution. This will resolve the issue,” Carpio said.
He said that if the House refuses to concede and insists on “voting jointly” in amending the Charter, then “any member of Congress or any taxpayer can now go to SC to raise the question.”
“Supreme Court ang dapat na arbiter dito,” Carpio quipped.
(el Amigo/MNM)
