Imee Marcos: Romualdez' office offered P20M per district for PI signature campaign

Sen. Imee Marcos said on Friday, Jan. 26 that his cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez' office was "definitely" behind the alleged P20 million offered to congressional districts in line with the ongoing push for People's Initiative (PI) for Charter change (Cha-cha).

"Well, definitely, opisina niya ang nag-alok ng P20 million kada distrito. Definitely, nanggaling sa kanila 'yung very attenuated timeline na July 9 tapos na ang lahat, at ibibigay na nang buong-buo itong economic provisions etc. (Definitely it's his office who offered P20 million pero district. Definitely, the very attenuated timeline that come July 9 it's all done, and they will give wholly theese economic provisions etc.) So, definitely, that derived from his office with very clear numbers identifying the staff members and attorneys involved," she told reporters in an interview. 

The senator personally thinks the current PI process is wrong due to the allegations of bribery involving different districts, as well as the issue that individuals are being asked to sign in exchange for financial aid coming from different government agencies.

Marcos is set to lead a Senate inquiry 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.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation filed Senate Resolution No. 903, 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.

The Senate inquiry on the efficacy of PI is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Marcos said that members of the House of Representatives (HOR) are always invited to any hearing, but will not be forced to do so.

"They are always invited and we will always recognize and allow them to speak but we will never be calling on them forcibly," she added.