House leaders to snub Senate probe on People’s Initiative

MANILA, Philippines — House Majority Leader Manuel Dalipe on Monday turned down the Senate’s invitation for House lawmakers to attend its committee hearing on the alleged vote-buying practices of those behind the People’s Initiative (PI) campaign, saying that one senator is out to implicate House members.

“While we appreciate Senator Marcos' open invitation to the Senate probe, it seems we in the House have our hands full crafting legislation aimed at enhancing the lives of our fellow Filipinos,” Dalipe said in a press conference.

“Perhaps while we focus on building bridges, others seem more inclined to hunt for witches,” the House majority leader added.

This comes after Sen. Imee Marcos — the president’s sister — extended an open invitation for House members to attend the Senate probe, saying that the inquiry would be an opportunity for them to "defend" themselves.

While House Speaker Martin Romualdez has repeatedly distanced himself from the ongoing PI campaign to change the 1987 Constitution, Marcos said last week that the House leader “definitely” orchestrated the campaign and offered a P20 million reward for each legislative district that clinches enough signatures. 

In response, the House leader said in a press conference that Marcos got her information through gossip (“Nagma-marites siguro”) and challenged the senator to prove her claim to “whatever court.”

Marcos earlier filed a Senate resolution seeking a probe into allegations of “signature buying” and misrepresentation in the PI campaign, which the Commission on Elections (Comelec) suspended on Monday. 

On Monday, Dalipe confirmed that House members will not be attending the hearing of the Senate committe on electoral reforms and people’s participation, which Marcos will preside on Tuesday.

“But rest assured, should our legislative schedule allow, we'd be more than willing to engage in fruitful discussions, preferably ones that construct, not deconstruct, our collective efforts for national progress,” Dalipe added.

The petition being circulated for the PI campaign seeks to allow Congress to convene in a constitutional assembly and vote jointly on changes to the Charter, giving the House of