HOUSE Deputy Speaker Quezon Representative David “Jayjay” Suarez yesterday called on Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri to honor his commitment to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to initiate discussions this week and pass Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 by March, a self-imposed deadline.

Suarez said he is confident that Zubiri will be “true to his word” and jumpstart the discussions on RBH No. 6 and eventually rally the needed 18 votes for the resolution that would pave the way for amendments to the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

“We in the House of Representatives believe that SP Zubiri will be true to his word and walk the talk in realizing his commitment to President Marcos to approve RBH No. 6 before the Holy Week break this year, which is by the end of March,” Suarez said.

RBH No. 6 is formally entitled, “A Resolution of Both Houses of Congress proposing amendments to certain provisions of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, particularly on Articles Xll, XlV and XVl.”

“And on our part in the House, we will be waiting here and assure all stakeholders that we will immediately act on the Senate approval. Naghihintay lang kami dito for the delivery of Zubiri’s promise,” he added.

He said the House has completed all its legislative commitments to the President, including all of the priority bills in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) list, as well as urgent measures listed by President Marcos Jr. in both of his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“We have deliberated exhaustively and passed all measures listed in the LEDAC and in the President’s SONA. Wala kaming back subjects, wala kaming backlogs. We are raring to deliberate and amend the restrictive economic provisions of our Charter para na rin sa kaginhawaan ng ating mga kabababayan,” Suarez bared.

“So waiting game kami dito sa Kongreso. Bukod sa exercise ng aming oversight functions, we will deliberate on pending measures in our chamber. Pero pagdating sa LEDAC at SONA, tapos na namin lahat,” he said.

Headlines of top daily newspapers today indicate that some senators have declared a “ceasefire” of the word war that has been happening between senators and members of the House of Representatives on the issue of the so-called people’s initiative (PI) to amend the Constitution.

Both Sens. Sonny Angara and Bato dela Rosa were quoted as sources of this “ceasefire,” purportedly from Zubiri himself.

But Dela Rosa still participated in the hearing of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation last Friday in Davao City on the people’s initiative.

“Pag sinabing ceasefire, sana ceasefire na talaga. We should be buckling down to business. Prioritizing RBH No. 6 should be our main focus right now. Madami tayong matutulungang negosyo at kababayan natin kapag naamyendahan natin ang mga restrictive economic provisions ng Konstitusyon,” Suarez said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas