Sen. Imee Marcos has filed a resolution directing the appropriate Senate Committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation into the efficacy of Republic Act No. 6735 in providing for a system of initiative and referendum as a means to amend to the existing Charter.

In filing Senate Resolution No. 903 on Thursday, Jan. 11, Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation stated that while there is no issue on the adequacy of the provisions of RA No. 6735 pertaining to initiatives or referenda on national statutes, their efficacy in implementing such intiatives or referenda is "questionable" as shown by the failure of various attempts to use the same to effect changes in national statutes.

She added that there is no available record on the number of times, if any, when RA No. 6735 has been successfully utilized to effect a People's Initiative or Referendum on local ordinances.

"In order to ensure there is a realistic avenue for the people to propose amendments to the Constitution or to propose national or local legislation, as well as, to approve or reject local or national law or resolution, there is a need to examine the efficacy of RA No. 6735 in providing for a system of initiative and referendum," Marcos said.

Under RA No. 6735,  or The Initiative and Referendum Act, it defines "initiative" as the power of the people to propose amendments to the Constitution or to propose and enact legislations through an election called for the purpose.

It also states that the power of initiative and referendum may be exercised by all registered voters of the country, autonomous regions, provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays.

Under this law, to exercise the power of initiative or referendum, at least ten per centum (10 percent) of the total number of the registered voters, of which every legislative district is represented by at least three per centum (3 percent) of the registered voters thereof, shall sign a petition for the purpose and register the same with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Meanwhile, in a radio interview on Radyo 630, Marcos disclosed that the Senate held an executive session on Wednesday, Jan. 10 which according to her, had something to do with the ongoing push for people's initiative for Charter change (Cha-cha).

When asked if the Senate will take a definitive position one of these days on the proposed move for Cha-cha, Marcos said that it is needed.

"Well, kinakailangan ano kasi parang ang nangyayari iba-bypass na lang ang Senado, palulusutin. Pwede bang ganon na papalitan na lang ang Konstitusyon, sila-sila lang ang nag uusap? Ang labo naman (Well it must be done, because what's happening is that Senate seems to get bypassed. How can they amend the Constitution on their own? That's unclear),” she said.