The Senate is more inclined to focus on matters that are urgent than to give priority to the ongoing moves to amend the 1987 Constitution through a People’s Initiative (PI).

Sen. Grace Poe pointed this out as she renewed her call for the public to shun the ongoing signature campaign on allow the Senate to focus on its true mandate. 

“Isa lang naman ang solusyon dyan: tigilan nyo na itong pekeng initiative (There’s only one solution to that: stop this fake initiative). We, in the Senate, are ready to work and focus on the things that matter––and we hope the House is ready to set aside this PI and do the same,” Poe said. 

Poe insisted that what the Filipinos urgently need of right now are food on the table, jobs, healthcare, education, and quality life.

“Sa bangayan dito sa pekeng initiative, inuuna na naman ng ibang tao ang politika kaysa problema ng bayan (In the ongoing tussle on this fake initiative, people are prioritizing politics instead of the nation’s problems),” she lamented.

Various surveys, she pointed out, also show that Charter change is not on the top of mind among Filipinos. 

"Bakit sinasabi namin na Pekeng Initiative ito na itinutulak ng mga politiko? Tingnan natin ang mga survey. Sabi ng isang (one) survey regarding the issues that concern our people, 1% lang po ng ating kababayan ay nagsabi na concerned sila sa Cha-cha, (Why do we consider this a fake initiative? Just look at the surveys. One survey regarding the issues that concern our people show that only only one percent of our people are saying they are concerned about Charter change),” she stressed.

Another national survey, she said, also showed that amendments to the Constitution did not figure among the top concerns the Filipinos want addressed by the administration.

“Malinaw po na wala sa isip ng tao ang Cha-cha, yet eto ang mga kasama natin sa House, sinasabi nila na nakuha na raw ang 12% na signatures na kailangan para matuloy na itong petition para sa PI (It’s clear that people are not thinking about Cha-cha, yet our counterparts in the House said they are are telling that there are already 12 percent signatures that are needed for this PI petition to push through),”  Poe noted

“Napakalayo naman po ng 1% sa 12%; paano ba nakuha ito? Dagdag bawas? (one percent is so far from 12 percent; how did they come up with the figures? Vote shaving?)” she asked.

“Ito ang klaro sa ating mga survey (It’s clear from the surveys): our people have more important things on their mind. The high prices of goods. Jobs. Higher salaries. Food. Naghihirap po sila, gutom po sila (They are suffering, they are hungry),” the lawmaker emphasized.

Last January 23, the Senate issued a strongly worded manifesto signed by all 24 senators, rejecting the House of Representatives’ bid for Cha-cha through the People’s Initiative (PI) as allegations of bribery and corruption, and illegal use of government programs and funds hounded the campaign.