Lagman hits supermajority’s blind loyalty to Duterte in ‘railroading’ Con-ass

Albay first-district Rep. Edcel Lagman slammed the “railroading” of Concurrent Resolution 9 paving the way for the convening of Congress into a constituent assembly or Con-ass, saying it shows how Congress has become the rubber stamp of the Duterte administration.

“The House has been transformed from a deliberative assembly to a rubber stamp of the President,” the Magnificent 7 lawmaker said in a statement.

“What happens now in the House will certainly happen in the projected Constituent Assembly composed of the supermajority blindly allied with the President,” Lagman said.

He said the inordinate fast-tracking of the approval of Concurrent Resolution 9 “confirms the critical view that the supermajority will railroad charter change.”

“The leadership of the House with the support of the supermajority is addicted to expediting the approval of bills and resolutions without affording dissenting Representatives the full opportunity to ventilate their opposition,” Lagman said.

The House of Representatives adopted Concurrent Resolution 9 last night despite objections from members of the Makabayan bloc led by ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and Anakpawis partylist Rep. Ariel Casilao.

The 1987 Constitution states that the Congress, as a Con-ass, may propose amendments to, or revise the Charter. The Duterte administration wants to federalize the Philippine government.

Concurrent Resolution 9 states that Con-ass is the preferred mode of introducing amendments to the Constitution “since it is deemed the most expeditious, open and least costly among the options contemplated.”