Gatchalian pushes for Cha-cha, 'tandem vote' for president, vice president

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a resolution calling on Congress to amend the 1987 Constitution to allow a single ticket system or tandem vote for president and vice president.

Gatchalian filed Resolution of Both Houses No. 3 which seeks the amendment of the provision under Section 4 of Article VII of the Constitution, with the concurrence of three-fourths of the Senate and House of Representatives, with each chamber voting separately.

“This will not only strengthen the political party system but will also provide the much-needed push to shift towards a more unified and consistent ideological or platform-based election that will promote policy continuity and assure implementation efficiency,” Gatchalian said.

“By institutionalizing a single ticket for the President, the focus of election will shift from the personalities involved to the political party’s common and unified policy agenda and contribute to more programmatic political debate and more effective governance,” the senator added.

Section 4 of Article VII of the 1987 Constitution reads in part as follows: "The President and the Vice-President shall be elected by direct vote of the people for a term of six years which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following the day of the election and shall end at noon of the same date, six years thereafter."

Gatchalian also said in his proposed resolution that the amendment explicitly state that “each ticket of candidates for President and Vice President shall be proposed prior to the holding of general elections by political parties or coalitions of political parties which are participants in the general elections.”

He also said the election returns that will be transmitted to Congress for canvassing procedure should also be as a single ticket. The ticket of candidates for president and vice president that will have the highest number of votes shall be proclaimed elected, he added.

The senator said that as shown in at least five previous elections when the winners in the presidential and vice presidential polls came from different parties, animosity arose between the top two elected officials.

“There is a need to strengthen the existing political party system by electing a President and a Vice President in the same ticket focused on addressing issues faced by the country and on improving the delivery of public services,” Gatchalian said.

Both Houses of Congress are set to adjourn sessions on February 5, 2022, and resume sessions on May 23 to June 3, 2022 before adjournment on June 4 to July 24. —KG, GMA News