Senators told: People’s initiative not cause for worry

MANILA, Philippines — Amid reported incidents of bribery, senators opposing congressmen’s support for amending the 1987 Constitution through a people’s initiative (PI) have nothing to worry about, according to Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

“We must remember that any and all proposed amendments from congressmen, senators and the people through people’s initiative will still have to be approved by the people in a plebiscite,” he said.

“The paranoia that the proposed amendments are self-serving is totally baseless. Let us disabuse our minds from these fears and respect the people’s will that will be reflected in the plebiscite, instead of fanning the flames of fear-mongering,” Barbers added.

Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier maintained that the House of Representatives did not participate nor initiate the signature campaign for a people’s initiative to change the Constitution.

On Jan. 10, Sen. Imee Marcos sought a Senate probe into the alleged P20-million payoffs and misrepresentations in the signature campaign.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) denied allegations by Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez that the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program was being used to secure signatures.

“Since its establishment, the DSWD and its social welfare programs, including AICS, have been protected against this kind of misuse with all agency personnel strictly adhering to existing rules and regulations in the conduct of payouts to our beneficiaries,” said DSWD spokesman Romel Lopez.

Cha-cha ‘long-sought’

Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte claimed that the “breadth by which the PI being pursued by our people has prospered across the country over the past weeks underscore that public support for the long-sought makeover of the 1987 Constitution is both broad and deep.”

House Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe defended Romualdez, noting that “certain senators opted to wield their words like daggers, aiming at the very heart of legislative camaraderie.”

Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda recently echoed the sentiments of Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, asserting