Press Release - Sen. Robin: Hearings and Debates on Charter Change to Continue

Hearings - and more importantly, debates - on proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution will continue even if Charter change will not be a priority of the Senate for now.

Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla stressed this on Monday, after Senate President Francis Escudero said proposed measures on Charter change will be placed in the "backburner" for now.

"Gusto ko lang magkaroon ng debate kasi yan ang papel ng Kongreso, pagdebatehan ang mga bagay. Pag hinaharang ako yan ang masakit. Siya naman nagsabi kanina ok siya sa debate (I just want debates to occur because that is the role of Congress, to debate on key issues. What hurts me is that moves to amend the Charter seem to be blocked. But the Senate President has said he is okay with debates on the matter)," said Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.

"Para sa akin, ang pinakamagandang sinabi ni SP kanina, yung gusto niyang makarinig ng debate. Para sa akin yan ang pinakamatamis (For me, the best thing the Senate President said was that he wants debates. For me, that is the sweetest)," he added. "Maganda ang sinabi niya na open siya sa debate (It is good that he said he is open to debates)."

Padilla said his committee will continue to hold hearings on proposals to amend provisions of the Constitution.

He added he hopes the committee reports generated from such committee hearings will reach the plenary.

"Tama ang panahon para pagusapan natin ang Konstitusyon. Ito yan (Now is the time to talk about the Constitution)," he said.

Sen. Robin: Tuloy ang Pagdinig at Debate sa Charter Change

Tuloy ang mga pagdinig - at higit dito, ang pagdedebate - sa mga panukala para baguhin ang Saligang Batas, kahit hindi ito magiging prayoridad ng Senado sa ngayon.

Iginiit ito ni Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla nitong Lunes, matapos sabihin ni Senate President Francis Escudero na sa "backburner" muna ang mga panukala sa "Cha-cha."

"Gusto ko lang magkaroon ng debate kasi yan ang papel ng Kongreso, pagdebatehan ang mga bagay. Pag hinaharang ako yan ang masakit. Siya naman nagsabi kanina ok siya sa debate," ani Padilla, na tagapangulo ng Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments