Senate President Francis Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News; House of Representatives handout

MANILA – Senate President Francis Escudero said he was planning to meet with House Speaker Martin Romualdez to mend fences between the two chambers over their differences on charter change and the People's Initiative. 

"He is my counterpart in the House and as I’ve said earlier, I expect to meet with him soon during the break to discuss the relationship, mending what needs to be mended, and establishing rules and protocols on how to coordinate with respect to what they are pushing for and with respect to what the Senate is pushing for, and to be able to coordinate and avoid misunderstandings or any miscommunication," Escudero said on Thursday. 

 "Sana maayos, wala nang palitan ng maanghang na salita dahil kahit naman di kami nagkakasundo sa 1 o 3 o maraming bagay, di rason yun para maghugas kami ng maduming damit ika nga sa publiko at magsabihan ng kung ano-anong salita na di parliamentary. Sa loob o sa labas man ng plenaryo, di bagay sa mababatas magsalita ng unparliamentary remarks, doon muna siguro kami magsisimula bago namin pag-usapan yung ibang mga bagay pa," he added. 

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Escudero earlier said most senators were wary about voting on Senate Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 or the proposed economic charter change as it could pave the way for a Supreme Court ruling that might dilute the Senate's say on charter amendments. 

Escudero pointed out that the House's version copied the constitution's vague provision that refers to amendments being approved by a vote of all the members of Congress. 

This doesn't say if the 2 chambers should vote together or separately. If they vote together, the votes of the 24 senators will be made useless by the 300-strong House.

Escudero seeks a guarantee that the 2 chambers will vote separately.

""Yun ang kailangan pa hanapin. Yun ang kailangan hanapin. Ako ba na nagtatanong at may duda kailangan maghanap o yung may gusto at nagtutulak nito ang kailangan maghanap ng solusyong yun?" Escudero said.

Meanwhile, Romualdez said he would find out the Senate's direction on economic constitutional amendments after meeting its new leader.

"Well, let's wait and see because we haven't talked yet, we haven't had a meeting,” he said.

The House in March approved on final reading Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, which seeks to relax foreign ownership restrictions in public utilities, higher education, and advertising.

A similar measure—RBH No. 6—is pending with a Senate subcommittee, which recently held a public consultation in Baguio City to gauge public sentiments on proposed amendments to economic constitutional provisions.

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“That’s the beauty of democracy, everything can be discussed. We can have meetings, caucuses, but we’re always confident because all of us, whether in Congress or the Senate, have the goal of serving the Filipino people,” Romualdez said.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 

In the meantime, Escudero said he was still figuring out the Senate’s legislative agenda under his watch. 

He noted the past leadership asked senators for 5 priorities each, which would then be cross-checked with administration priorities so the Senate can come up with its priorities.

He said they will prioritize measures that would be easier to pass.

"Kung may priority measure na hindi naman papasa sa Senado hindi na namin pag aaksayahan ng panahon at sasabihin namin sa Malacanang sayang na naman ang igugugol na oras din eh. O kung may panukala sila na tatanggapin  yung ilang pagbabagong gusto ng Senado, tatanggapin rin ng Kamara, yun posibleng mabuo, eh di yun ang isusulong namin," Escudero said.