Press Release - Excerpts of Interpellation Transcript of Senator Risa Hontiveros with resource speakers during the RBH No. 6 hearing

Senator Risa Hontiveros: Bago yung mga hinanda kong tanong, I would like to follow up yung usapin ng prejudicial question which I believe actually a couple already of our resource persons raised, beginning po with Justice Mendoza.

So my staff looked at the records of the deliberations of the Constitutional Commission at Kung Pwede, Mr. Chair, I'd like to read one paragraph where it says, "Mr. Regalado, I also noticed that both Sections 1 and 2 are premised on the anticipation that the Commission, not only the Committee, will opt for a unicameral body... In the event that a bicameral legislative body will carry the day, has the Committee prepared contingency proposals or resolutions?"

Sumagot si Mr. Suarez, "Yes, in that situation, we would propose to include the words, in joint session assembled." And then nag-follow up question si Mr. Regalado, "but still maintaining the same number of votes?" Mr. Suarez: "The Commissioner is right." Mr. Regalado: "Thank you."

So at tingin ko po, Mr. Chair, relevant po ito pertinent dun sa prejudicial question na kung anong rules ang dapat i-apply. The word "assembled" kasi po suggests a physical, as proposed earlier by Justice Mendoza. So parang ang intent po nga ay may pagkikita, pero magbobotohan ng hiwalay dahil nga may same number of votes.

Maybe our framers, those physically present, and if Chris Monsod is still online, maybe our framers could shed light on this. At kasi kaya nga po ako nagmungkahi ng suspension kanina para po magkaroon ng clarity yung ating proceedings. So just to add a little bit to that, just a little more clarity at this point in time.

Could our framers of the Constitution shed light on this issue, Mr. Chair? Or would

Justice Mendoza or Chief Justice Davide like to address this first? Justice Mendoza. Former SC Justice Vicente Mendoza: Yes, that's what they really decided in the Constitutional Commission, and it was only by reason of oversight that the corresponding phrase was not placed there. But the other provisions of the Constitution were amended. Oversight lamang. Oversight.

SRH: So by oversight, Justice, ang hindi po nailagay ay yung "in joint session assembled"?

Mendoza: "in joint session