Deputy Speaker Ronaldo “Ronnie” Puno, chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), sent two letters on Monday formally urging the House of Representatives to take decisive action to advance discussions on constitutional reform through a Constitutional Convention.
In a letter addressed to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, Puno called on House leadership to initiate early discussions with the Senate following recent remarks by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III expressing support and openness to meet with the House on the matter.
The NUP said the developments present a timely opportunity for both chambers to engage in constructive dialogue, build consensus, and ensure any reform process proceeds in a transparent manner that responds to the needs of the Filipino people.
In a separate letter to Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Puno urged the committee to expedite and complete its hearings on House Bill No. 5870, previously filed by NUP lawmakers, which seeks to convene a Constitutional Convention.
The party stressed that the recent Supreme Court ruling on impeachment highlights how textual ambiguities and gaps in the Charter can create increasingly rigid and complex procedures with significant consequences for institutional accountability.
“What was intended to be a clear constitutional mechanism to demand accountability from the highest officials of the land is now subject to an increasingly strict, rigid, and overly legalized process,” Puno said. “What began as uncertainty over a single word (‘forthwith’) has now expanded into uncertainty over the entire impeachment framework itself.”
He emphasized that the call for reform reflects a broader constitutional reality and is not tied to any single case or personality. The goal of HB 5870 is to correct ambiguities, reinforce the Constitution’s authority, and ensure greater clarity, coherence, and workability.
“We believe that a Constitutional Convention is the most prudent, legitimate, and truly democratic mechanism for reform,” Puno added. “It allows the Filipino people, through elected and independent delegates, to confront enduring constitutional questions through reasoned debate anchored in the rule of law.”
The Committee has formally responded that deliberations on HB 5870 will continue on 11 March at 1:00 p.m. at the Nograles Hall, South Wing Annex, House of Representatives. NUP is currently the second-largest political party in the House.