SENATE MINORITY leader Franklin M. Drilon, former chair of the Senate committee on constitutional change, said on Thursday that the Senate is ready to receive any recommendation on Charter change that will come from the committee or from President Rodrigo R. Duterte. The statement comes after Representatives Aurelio D. Gonzales, Jr. and Eugene Michael B. De Vera filed last Wednesday a draft Federal Constitution for plenary debate. Mr. Drilon, however, noted that a “proposed constitutional commission is only a study group which will submit to the Congress the proposed amendments that the President would like to see.” He said it is ultimately up to Congress whether to pursue a Constitutional Assembly or Constitutional Convention if it decides to amend the Constitution. Senate President Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III, on the other hand, said that he welcomes any increased interest in federalism, but that he still “need to see what their model is.” — Mario M. Banzon

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