Enrile on House con-ass move: Exercise in futility

MANILA, Philippines - Even if the House of Representatives would be able to approve Tuesday night the resolution calling for a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said such would still be an exercise in futility. "How can they do it? That’s an exercise in futility. They need the Senate. It’s impossible for them to accomplish that. Huwag n’yo nang pagkaabalahan yun [You should not be bothered with that]," Enrile told reporters Tuesday. The Senate earlier said that it will not approve any move to amend the 1987 Constitution before the 2010 elections. Earlier in the day, House Speaker Prospero Nograles said the House will pass the controversial resolution and then study if they would convene into a constituent assembly right away. "We will approve it today [Tuesday] and call for a leadership meeting tomorrow," Nograles said, adding that the chamber would tackle nothing but HR 1109 during Tuesday’s plenary session. For the measure to be approved, it has to get a majority vote or 134 of the House’s 265 members. The Speaker said a constituent assembly would have to be convened immediately after the approval of the measure, but admitted that he was clueless as to how. "It will have to be implemented. How, I don't know yet," Nograles said. On Monday, the House committee on constitutional amendments voted 22-10 to have HR 1109 approved and sent to the plenary for deliberations. Committee chair and La Union Rep. Victor Ortega said sending the measure to the plenary would allow for more comprehensive discussions on the issue. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV