GORDON CAUTIONS HOUSE ON INFIRM CON ASS MOVE

The House of Representatives cannot amend or revise the Constitution without the Senate. These two chambers of Congress must vote separately and obtain each in the House and the Senate for any proposed amendment to, or revision of, the Constitution to be valid, said Senator Richard J. Gordon, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws.

After the defeat of the peoples initiative as a mode of proposing amendments to the Constitution in the Supreme Court, the proponents of charter change in the House of Representatives have shifted gears to achieve their goal towards a unicameral parliamentary form of government through a constituent assembly, which they hope to start immediately when session resumes on November 6. Those who are interested to pursue charter change in the House of Representative may well do so, but they must be wary of their move. They cannot do it alone. They have been told of the legal infirmities of their planned action to pursue a constituent assembly without the Senate. They should not insist on doing something that is unconstitutional, cautioned Gordon. All they need to do is heed to sound legal advice. We should as much as possible avoid to pull the Supreme Court into this fray to correct grave abuse of discretion on their part, if this can be resolved among the members of Congress, he added.

Every time we go on a protracted legal battle, we waste time, money, and resources. Ultimately, it is our country that suffers. As elected representatives of our people, we should exercise prudent judgment and utmost responsibility in making sure that all our actions are within the bounds of the Constitution, declared Gordon.