House committee chairpersons must be wary of Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas’ presiding over committee meetings if chairpersons fail to fast-track the supermajority’s agenda.

The decision of the Majority Floor Leader to preside over the subsequent meetings of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments was an offshoot of the near fistfight between two members after chairman Roger Mercado allowed a free debate on the differing methods of effecting amendments to the Constitution.

Under committee rules, the Majority Floor Leader, like other House officials, is only an ex officio member of committees and the chairpersons and the vice chairpersons are the presiding officers in that order.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN