CBCP head wary of 100 more congressmen

MANILA, Philippines - The head of the influential Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is not too keen on having the House of Representatives have 100 more members as proposed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo called for a careful study before adding 100 lawmakers to represent added congressional districts. "(Adding) a hundred lawmakers will mean added expense to the government. We already have enough lawmakers,” he said in an interview on Church-run Radio Veritas. Excerpts of the interview were posted Sunday on the CBCP website Lagdameo said proper consultation with the people would have to be made and the legislators should take time to listen to what the people would say. "In the long run, it is the government which will spend for these lawmakers,” he pointed out. Lagdameo said he was also surprised to learn of this proposal. In filing Senate Bill 3123, Enrile sought to increase the number of congressmen from 250 to 350 as he cited the growing population in some congressional seats. Malacañang has backed the proposal. - GMANews.TV