Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Friday, January 26 rejected a suggestion emanating from the House of Representatives for the Senate to conduct its own People’s Initiative (PI) campaign that would take up the restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution. 

Zubiri issued the statement a few hours after confirming having received House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s letter addressed to him, stating the House of Representatives’ commitment to support an alternative People’s Initiative led by the Senaet on the proposed amendments to the economic provisions of the Charter.

“I have received and read the letter of Speaker Martin Romualdez on the legislative efforts to effect changes to the 1987 Constitution. The Speaker will have our reply on Monday,” Zubiri said in his statement.

“As for his suggestion of an alternative people’s initiative emanating from the Senate, there have been no discussions on this. We believe that any legitimate people’s initiative must be genuinely led by the people. The Senate still maintains that this people’s initiative, in its current form and how the signatures are being collected, is flawed and unconstitutional,” the Senate leader emphasized. 

At the same time, Zubiri expressed hope that the ongoing debacle on Charter change would not lead further to a constitutional crisis. 

“We have warned about a possible constitutional crisis and tried to avoid it. But unfortunately, it seems that this is slowly happening,” he said.

“We hope this crisis will be averted soon. We intend to carefully study the options available to us to maintain the checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution through a bicameral legislature. We remain vigilant for our country and for our people,” the Senate chief added. 

In his letter to Zubiri, Romualdez said the deputy speakers, majority leader and the minority leader are fully in support of Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 which Zubiri filed. 

“We await the approval of the Senate RBH No. 6, and we commit to adopt this measure pertaining to the amendments of the economic provisions of the Constitution,” Romualdez said in his letter to Zubiri, dated January 25, 2024.

“We also pledge and commit to support an alternative people's initiative led by the Senate with the proposition on amendments to the restrictive provisions of the Constitution,” he added.

The Senate earlier released a manifesto signed by all 24 senators opposing the ongoing signature campaign for the proposed amendments to the Constitution with Congress voting jointly. 

“While it seems simple, the goal is apparent to make it easier to revise the Constitution by eliminating the Senate from the equation. It is an obvious prelude to further amendments, revisions, or even an overhaul of our entire Constitution,” the Senate manifesto stated. 

An insult to the Senate

In a press briefing, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva for his part said he believes the House Speaker’s letter to the Senate is an insult to the institution. 

“Excuse me first, are you saying or admitting that you actually led this ‘pekeng’ (fake) initiative? You can no longer call it People’s Initiative (PI),” Villanueva pointed out.

“I’m sorry this is an insult!...This is the very reason why we are so passionate and angered by this PI,” he insisted. 

“It’s like telling an unfaithful partner to also commit infidelity…Again, in that particular manner, again, I say this is an insult to the Senate,” he pointed out. 

Nevertheless, Villanueva said the Senate will not allow itself to be hostaged by their counterparts in the lower house.

“The Senate will never allow itself to be hostaged—history will bear me out—even by the most powerful person in the world. The Senate will not allow itself to be a hostage,” the majority leader stressed.