Senate staff were seen wearing maroon armbands on Monday, Jan. 29 to express support for the upper chamber's rejection of the ongoing push for People's Initiative (PI) as a means to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Both Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and JV Ejercito were seen wearing the maroon armbands on their left arm. Both of them mentioned that this is to show their solidarity against PI.
Staff said that it was not compulsory to wear the armbands.
Meanwhile, Senate Secretary Bantug Jr. said that the move is the initiative of the employees, Secretariat, and OS proper, as a show of solidarity and support to the institution.
According to Bantug, maroon is the color of the Senate flag, and to recall, it is also the color chosen by the senators for their impeachment trial robes.
The Senate and the House of Representatives (HOR) have differing stands when it comes to amending the 37-year-old Constitution. Reports have been reaching senators that the HOR is behind the ongoing signature drive for PI asking voters if they favor amending the 1987 Constitution to pave the way for Congress to jointly vote on the proposed constitutional assembly in a constituent assembly or Con-ass.
The Senate has already issued a manifesto strongly expressing opposition to the ongoing attempts to change the 1987 Constitution through a PI.
In the manifesto, the Senate strongly objected to eliminating the Upper Chamber’s role in introducing amendments or even overhauling the Constitution.
The PI, Con-Ass (Constituent Assembly), and Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) comprise the three ways that the 1987 Constitution can be amended.
A Senate inquiry led by Marcos on the efficacy of PI is scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 30.