PARTY stalwarts in the House of Representatives on Tuesday challenged their Senate counterparts to show their sincerity in introducing economic constitutional reforms by passing the harmless Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, and lawmakers will adopt them in toto.
“Pass your version of RBH 6, where there are no political provisions, only economic provisions, and we will be one with the Senate. We will no longer ask for any debates. No questions asked,” House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe told a news briefing.
“If they want, we can even do blood compact just like that Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said,” the Zamboanga City congressman added, noting that senators have always blocked charter change efforts, even as far back as RBH 2 in the previous Congress where a constituent assembly was proposed.
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga’s third district recalled that no less than Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri promised to President Marcos, including the Speaker, that he can have RBH 6 passed, but they were surprised about the senator’s total turnaround.
“My worry is just that they may not be able to get the 18 votes needed, just like what he promised us. SP Migz told us he can have it passed by March,” he told newsmen.
Rep. Geraldine Roman of Bataan recalled that many of the senators have been congressmen themselves, and that she wonders why they have reversed themselves now that they have been elected senators, when in truth and in fact, they also supported constitutional amendments when they were in House.
“Let’s walk the talk. Let’s focus our efforts on discussing the RBH-6. Let’s not waste time. Let’s start the ball rolling. Let’s make it happen,” she said.
