By Billy Begas
House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City Rep. Ronaldo Puno said that the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments is not acting on the measures seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Puno, chairperson of the National Unity Party (NUP), said he has been pushing for amendments to ambiguous provisions of the Constitution since last year.
“Last year ko pa sinabi ito. Walang gumagalaw sa Committee on Constitutional Amendments. No hearing scheduled,” Puno said.
Based on the calendar of activities, the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, chaired by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, was supposed to conduct a hearing last May 13, but it was canceled.
Puno is favoring Constitutional convention (Concon) in amending the Constitution.
In a privilege speech last year, Puno said Concon ensures singularity of purpose, that is, to formulate and propose changes in the Constitution.
“Unlike a Constituent Assembly, they will not be pre-occupied nor derailed with law-making, oversight functions, and impeachment concerns. Through a Concon, conflict of interest would be avoided, broader representation guaranteed, and the risk of political expediency is reduced,” said Puno.
On November 11, 2025, Puno, along with several members of the NUP, filed House Bill 5870 calling for a constitutional convention to propose amendments, revisions, corrections, and changes to the 1987 Constitution.
The measure was filed amid controversies surrounding the meaning of “forthwith” in the conduct of the impeachment trial.
“The directive in Article XI Section 3(4) that impeachment proceedings “shall forthwith proceed” has become the subject of partisan dispute and inconsistent application, undermining the urgency of constitutional accountability,” the bill said.
The bill also mentioned Article VI, Section 28, paragraph 4, which states that “no law granting any tax exemption shall be passed without the concurrence of a majority of all Members of the Congress,” “has led to interpretative confusion over whether Congress is to act as a joint body or in separate chambers.”
