House minority to challenge GOCC bill before SC

The minority bloc at the House of Representatives on Wednesday threatened to challenge before the Supreme Court (SC) the bill on government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) that has been approved by the bicameral conference once it becomes a law. House Minority Leader Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the opposition bloc will question the legislation before the Supreme Court because some of its provisions have “questionable constitutional validity." Lagman questioned the provision creating the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) under the Office of the President, which will “evaluate the performance and determine the relevance of the GOCC." “The inherent power to reorganize belongs to Congress. This super body which would review the performance of GOCCs could even recommend the abolition of GOCCs. That can never be justified," he said at a press conference. He added that the GCG will only duplicate the duties of the Civil Service Commission. The lawmaker also noted how another provision in the measure, which terminates the services of some government appointees with fixed terms until June 30, will violate the constitutional mandate for their security of tenure. “The GOCCs are part of civil service... All those under civil service entitled to security of tenure. The Constitution says that no one can be removed without cause, and legislative fiat is not proper cause to pre-terminate," he said. Lagman said these loopholes were approved by both chambers of Congress because majority lawmakers do not listen to criticisms from the minority. “This is the problem of legislating in alacrity. Wala nang deliberation. We have ceased to be a deliberative body. We are just a stamp pad," he said. President Benigno Aquino III earlier identified the GOCC bill as one of the 23 priority measures he presented during the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). — KBK, GMA News