House OKs resolution calling for con-con on final reading

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 6) — The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved on final reading a resolution calling for a constitutional convention (con-con) that would propose amendments to the Constitution.

Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 obtained 301 votes, six were against, and one abstained.

Ahead of the session, the majority bloc held a caucus where 300 lawmakers expressed intent to co-author RBH 6, according to a press statement from the office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

The resolution notes that a constitutional convention “would be the most transparent, exhaustive, democratic, and least divisive means of implementing constitutional reforms.”

The House approval came less than two months since the Committee on Constitutional Amendments began public consultations on charter change at the Batasang Pambansa, and select venues in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

While RBH 6 states that the convention would be called “for the purpose of proposing amendments to the economic provisions, or revision of, the 1987 Constitution,” Committee on Constitutional Amendments chairman Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said last week there is no stopping delegates from touching the political provisions.

The House proposed a hybrid assembly with elected and appointed members. The election and appointment of delegates would coincide with the Oct. 30, 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

Details of the convention, such as the funding and qualifications of delegates, are in an accompanying measure, House Bill 7532, now in plenary debates.