Sen Tolentino files reso to amend Constitution

Senator Francis Tolentino has filed Senate Resolution No. 941 to address the lack of rules in the Senate regarding amending or revising the Constitution, following Senator Francis Escudero's disclosure that such guidelines are needed.

The resolution proposes adopting guidelines for amending or revising the 1987 Constitution through a vote of three-fourths of all Congress members either through joint or separate constitutional sessions.

Tolentino’s proposal mirrors the Bernas formula, which allows both houses to amend the constitution as they do with ordinary bills, and then send the approved measure to the other house for processing.

In case of separate sessions, the Senate may propose changes through a resolution approved by three-fourths of its members and subject to House concurrence.

The adoption of resolutions proposing amendments will follow legislative procedures until the Senate converts itself into a constituent assembly for plenary debates on proposed changes.