Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has told those opposing the Charter change (Cha-cha) not to demonize the effort to amend the 1987 Constitution.

This, as Barbers insisted in a statement Thursday, Jan. 11 that legislators from Congress should neither act blind nor deaf to the call of local executives to launch a People's Initiative (PI) that would lead to constitutional revisions.

“Bakit kayo takot pag-aralan na i-improve ang Constitution natin? Kayo ba ang may say, ang taong bayan di ba? (Why are you afraid to improve our Constitution? Do you have a say in this? It's the public, is it not?)" he said, referring to individuals who are anti-Cha-cha.

"So maglagay kayo ng safeguards during the review. Maraming paraan, hindi yung idedemonize niyo agad yun effort to improve it. Kasi sa ginagawa niyo mukhang kayo ang may tinatagong interes," added Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.

(So just place safeguards there during the review. There are lots of ways to do this, you shouldn't immediately demonize the effort to improve it. Because with what you're doing, it seems that you're the ones with hidden interests.)

The Mindanaoan also had a message for senators, who compared to House of Representatives members are quite lukewarm to Cha-cha.

“If only the senators who are opposed to Charter change will ask their friends in the business sector and in the local government, they will realize that Charter change is not a clamor from politicians alone but from the people and the business community,” he said.

The House of Representatives and Senate comprise the bicameral Philippine Congress. Historically, the House has usually been the chamber to starts talks on amending the Constitution, while the Senate has had the penchant to cast the endeavor aside.

In the same statement, Barbers gave huge importance to the support for Cha-cha through PI expressed by members of League of Provinces, which is composed of all provincial governors; and the League of Mayors, which is composed of all mayors nationwide.

Barbers noted that the PI--which is centered on the gathering of signatures among registered voters--has been gaining ground.

"These local chief executives are the ones directly in touch with the people in the grassroots and no one else knows better about the realities on the ground other than them. Their statements carry much weight and no other branch of government can question, deny or suppress that," he said.

“Having voiced out their positions supporting the people, Congress’ work becomes imperative and automatic in support of the people’s wishes," Barbers said.

In this regard. he said that nothing else is needed their elected lawmakers aside from "support and encouragement".

“We took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. People’s Initiative is an integral part of the Constitution. As such, it will be a betrayal of our oath if we try to stop the people from exercising their rights. It will be in direct violation of our sworn duty," explained Barbers.