THE House of Representatives has shot down the override on President Benigno Aquino III鈥檚 veto of the law seeking to increase the Social Security System (SSS) pension hike.
The lower House failed to 聽make the legislative intervention on the last day of the 16th Congress, which adjourned sine die its third regular session on Monday night.
During the session, Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao said the House could not tackle the override because by the time the proponent Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares moved for a vote on the override, the Senate had adjourned sine to end the third regular session of the 16th Congress.
Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fari帽as said the Constitution clearly states that overriding a presidential veto should be considered by both Houses of Congress.
He said it would be a futile exercise for the lower House to override the veto because the Senate would still have to consider it.
鈥淲ith all due respect, the Constitution is very clear with respect to override of a veto鈥� Whatever we鈥檒l be doing would be an exercise in futility because the Constitution requires, if we muster the two thirds to override the veto of the president, we should send it to the other House to reconsider it,鈥� Fari帽as said.
For his part, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon said Congress missed the opportunity to prove that the lower House is not subservient to Malaca帽ang and the Senate.
鈥淲e have a chance to prove the principle of separation of powers. The president has exercised an executive decision to veto but the Constitution provides that executive session be subject to the co-equal power of the legislature. All I鈥檓 asking is for this House to be given a chance to put on record that the House of Representatives is exercising its power to override the veto,鈥� Biazon said.
Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing had the same opinion, saying 鈥淟et it be said that, at least for posterity, we are truly independent from the executive and the other chamber of the Senate.鈥�
鈥淗uwag naman masabi na we are hopeless just because nag-sine die na (ang Senate), inutile na tayo,鈥� he added.
Colmenares, the proponent of the override, said Congress could have used the opportunity to set a precedent that it could intervene in a presidential veto of a significant bill.
鈥淪ayang, we could have set a precedent of the congressional intervention to an unjust veto,鈥� Colmenares said.
鈥淲e could make history and make a strong legislative intervention to alleviate the plight of our senior citizens. We cannot abdicate on that role mainly because baka useless na yun,鈥� he added.
Majority leader Neptali Gonzales II said it would defeat the purpose of an override if it鈥檚 only meant to send a message that the House is independent from the Senate and the executive department.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not an override if it would just be a statement which is far from the override provided for in the Constitution,鈥� Gonzales said.
Outgoing President Aquino vetoed the approved bill increasing the pension by P2,000 because the proposal would bankrupt the state pension fund.
READ:聽Aquino vetoes increase in聽SSS聽pension
Aquino said the P2,000 across-the-board pension hike for all 2.1 million pensioners would cost the SSS some P56 billion. SSS only earns an annual investment income of P30 billion.
The proposed law would have increased the monthly pension by P2,000 across-the-board 鈥� to P3,200 from P1,200 for those with 10 credited years of service, and to P4,000 from P2,400 for those with 20 years.
搁贰础顿:听House shuts out聽SSS聽veto聽override
Under the 1987 Constitution, both Houses of Congress may overturn a president鈥檚 veto of a bill in a separate two thirds vote.