Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda (left), Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Facebook, MANILA BULLETIN)

Ranking congressmen Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda and Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers think that efforts for the People’s Initiative (PI) must continue despite the Senate's push for a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass).

Salceda and Barbers, chairmen of the House Committees on Ways and Means and on Dangerous Drugs, respectively, have been backing the PI and its signature campaign even before the senators' surprise filing of Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.6.

The PI and Con-Ass are two methods by which the 1987 Constitution may be amended.

"I think we should allow the PI to reach its natural course, to reach its local conclusion...it's beyond any politician to stop," Salceda said in a chance interview Wednesday, Jan. 17.

"In a way, the genie is out of the bottle with respect to PI. I've heard that at least mga 60 districts have already complied [with the signature requirement], most of them are 20 percent," he said.

"I think everybody will agree that the Constitution isn't perfect...Our Constitution is a living document, di ba (right)? We must adjust," said Salceda.

For his part, Barbers raised the possibility that RBH No.6 could end up getting questioned for its validity.

“Should we go ahead and consider RBH No.6, and granting for the sake of argument that it passes, the method used by Congress in passing it may be questioned in the Supreme Court (SC) and may therefore put to waste all the resources and time spent on it," he said.

"It is therefore my suggestion to my colleagues to study this well before jumping into the fray. In the meantime, let the [PI] continue so we can see and hear the sentiments of our sovereign people,” Barbers said.

For a PI to succeed, at least three percent registered voters in every legislative district must be represented and must endorse the petition.

Salceda's estimate indicates that the PI movement "has its own momentum, it has its own traction."

Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri announced the filing of RBH No.6 only last Monday, Jan. 15 when it was already being widely reported that the signature campaign for PI was gaining steam all over the country.

"When it (1987 Constitution) was being written, walang pang artificial intelligence noon. Wala pang ChatGPT noon (there was still no artificial intelligence, no ChatGPT)," he joked, before quickly turning serious again.

"Certain provisions need to be updated in order for the country to respond or take advantage of the opportunities," noted the Bicolano.