Marcos bucks Cha-cha via people’s initiative

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has expressed disdain for the signature campaign to change the Constitution under the people’s initiative that he deemed “too divisive,” and has urged the Senate to take the lead in amending the Charter, or at least some of its economic provisions.

This was according to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri – citing his recent meeting with Marcos – as Resolution of Both Houses of Congress 6 was filed in the Senate. RBH6 aims to amend certain economic provisions of the Constitution simply through legislation.

RBH6 limits any Charter change effort to specific provisions that will open up public services, the education sector and advertising industry to foreign ownership.

Zubiri said he and Senators Loren Legarda and Sonny Angara filed RBH6 to avert a constitutional crisis amid the House push for Charter change and other senators’ opposition to Cha-cha.

However, Noel Oñate, lead convenor of the People’s Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action or PIRMA, said the signature campaign continues.

“This is to avert a constitutional crisis between the House of Representatives and the Senate. And to make it clear that there are no other planned provisions or amendments on any other thing but purely economic in nature,” Zubiri told reporters after he personally filed the resolution.

He said that after learning about the people’s initiative last Jan. 5, he immediately sought an audience with Marcos. He said he and the President met on Jan. 9 and later that same day with Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The Senate chief said his “colorful and vigorous discussion” with Romualdez “became quite heated.” He did not elaborate.

He said they met again on Jan. 11, this time with Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos present.

“I would like to thank the President for his comment that the PI is too divisive, and even mentioned news items from the media networks that he watched the night before,” Zubiri said.

The President, he said, was rattled by the controversy sparked by the signature campaign, specifically the allegations of bribery raised by some lawmakers.

Zubiri also recalled