It’s clear in this provision that the intervention of the CA, a legislative body, in a primarily executive function is for the purpose of check and balance, an important feature in a democracy.

But like many of the democratic institutions that have been perverted by politicians, the CA has been reduced to an extortion gang with members willing to sell their votes in exchange for favors from the nominee and the nominating authority.

A current member of the CA confirms the earlier expose of former Rep. Herminio Teves of members of the CA asking for concessions in terms of appointments of relatives in the nominee’s department and projects in their areas. Some even talk of outright cash gifts.

Sen. Jamby Madrigal wrote Senate President Villar two weeks requesting that the present membership of the CA be re-organized to conform strictly to the requirement of the Constitution.

Madrigal’s request may have something to do with what transpired the past months which was highlighted by her invocation of Section 20 of the Senate rules to block the attempt of the majority of the CA, led by Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, to railroad the confirmation of military officers, many of whom failed to satisfactorily answer charges of violations of military rules and regulations. But she raises a valid point.

Section 18, Article VI of the Constitution provides that the CA shall be composed of "the President of the Senate as ex officio chairman, twelve senators, and twelve members of the House of Representatives, elected by each of the House on the basis of proportional representation from the political parties or organizations registered under the party list system represented therein."

The current officers and members of the CA from the Senate are Senate President Manuel Villar (NP); Madrigal (PDP-Laban), Rodolfo Biazon (LP); Joker Arroyo (KAMPI); Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (Lakas-CMD), Panfilo Lacson (UNO); Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada (PMP); Juan Ponce-Enrile (PMP); Loren Legarda (NPC); Richard Gordon (Lakas-CMD), Mar Roxas (LP); Lito Lapid (Lakas-CMD); Miriam Defensor-Santiago (PRP).

Madrigal noted PMP has two members (Ejercito and Enrile) when it is only entitled to one. KAMPI is not entitled to a CA membership because it has only one member in the Senate but there’s Arroyo in the CA. Same thing with PRP which has only Santiago, who also sits in the CA.

Madrigal further said: "If Senators Richard Gordon and Pia Cayetano are independents, then Sen. Gordon cannot be a member of the CA as Independents cannot be represented in the CA even though there are three Independents in the CA."

Madrigal also scrutinized the House contingent in the CA composed of Eduardo Zialcita (Lakas-CMD); Rodolfo Plaza (NPC); Jose Yap (Lakas-CMD); Emmanuel Joel Villanueva (CIBAC); Rodolfo Albano III (KAMPI); Eileen Ermita-Buhain (Lakas-CMD); Conrado Estrella (NPC); Abdullah Dimaporo (Lakas-CMD), Eduardo Gullas (KAMPI); Jose Carlos Lacson (Lakas-CMD); and Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza (KAMPI).

Madrigal noted that the House LP is not represented in the CA while CIBAC is, despite the fact that it has only two members in the House and therefore not entitled to a CA seat.

Let’s see if Villar, as chairman, will have the guts to rock the boat and revamp the CA according to the provisions of the Constitution.