By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Saying that it was only Senate interpretation that the two houses of Congress shall vote separately, House Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre stressed on Thursday (22 Feb 2024) that the 1987 Constitution does not mandate separate voting for the proposed amendments of the 1987 Constitution.
“Ang voting separately, dinagdag po ‘yun ng Senado kung anong nakasulat sa Saligang Batas. Tayo po [sa House of Representatives] we stand with what’s written in the Constitution,” Acidre said in a press conference.
The Tingog party-list lawmaker cited Section 1, Article XVII (Amendments and Revisions) of the Constitution, which states that “Any amendment to, or revision of, the Constitution may be proposed by: 1) The Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members…”
“Kinopya lang po natin doon, pagpapakita po na ang House ay sumusunod po sa pangkasalukuyang Saligang Batas ng bansa,” Acidre maintained.
Earlier, former Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said that if the House refuses to concede and insists on “voting jointly” in amending the Charter, then “any member of Congress or any tax payer can now go to SC to raise the question.”
“Supreme Court ang dapat na arbiter dito,” Carpio said.
(el Amigo/MNM))