Marcos calls Congress to hold special session

MANILA, Philippines, June 16 ------ Leaders of Congress welcomed President Marcos’ proclamation, calling the legislature to a special session this week to tackle urgent measures and pending appointments, which he cited in his pronouncement.

Earlier on Sunday, Sen. Joel Villanueva said he would attend a special session of Congress should Marcos convene one. The attendance of one more senator is seen as crucial to resolving the dispute in the Senate, which Malacañang had asked the upper chamber to settle before the President calls such a session. Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1318 on June 15, “calling the Congress of the Philippines to a special session” on June 17 to tackle such “priority legislative measures” as the proposed National Center for Geriatric Health and Presidential Merit Scholarship Program, as well as amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Act, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, the Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged and Conflict-Affected Areas Schools Act, and the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act.

Also included among these priorities is the proposed antipolitical dynasty law, which may affect the political interests of families in public office including Marcos and his relatives. “The special session is likewise called to allow the Commission on Appointments (CA) to convene and act on appointments made to the Cabinet, the military, and the foreign service,” the proclamation also noted in part. Analysts have pointed out that these pending appointments have been virtually held hostage by the Senate dispute over its leadership.

The President cited in his proclamation Section 15, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution which authorizes him to call Congress to hold a special session. According to a legal expert, the special session shall only end after bills in its agenda are either passed or defeated by both chambers. “The President calls a special session but he does not have the power or prerogative to dissolve it. As the Constitution withholds from the President any power to terminate a congressional session, that power is understood to exclusively belong to Congress,” said lawyer Paolo Tamase, associate dean of the University of the Philippines’ College of Law.

Source: inquirer.net