Imee responds to Romualdez' call for respect: 'Siya nag-umpisa'

Sen. Imee Marcos was quick to reply to Speaker Martin Romualdez call not to be disrespectful, stating that the House leader was the first one to throw a jab against the Senate.

"Ceasefire daw wala raw sanang bastusan, eh siya naman ang nagsabi walang paki ang Senado. Siya ang nag-umpisa, nung inugali ko yung ugali niya umiiyak siya (He's calling for a ceasefire, and to not be disrespectful, but he's the one who said that the Senate should not concern itself [in PI]. He started it, when I did what he did, he's crying about it)," she said in an ambush interview just after the hearing of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation on People's Initiative (PI). 

In her opening statement, Marcos said those who are claiming that the Senate has no business meddling with the PI signature drive are shameless. 

“Sinumang magsabi na walang paki ang Senado sa usapin na ito, isa lang ang masasabi ko: ‘Walang gamot sa kakapalan ng mukha mo’, (whoever said that the Senate has no say about this issue, all I can say is: there’s no cure for your being shameless),” Marcos said during the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation’s initial investigation on the PI campaign. 

The presidential sister did not mention any names but showed various clips of and news reports of House Speaker Martin Romualdez and some members of the House of Representatives whom senators have believed to be behind the campaign. 

One particular line from Marcos' opening statement during the Senate hearing stood out for the House Speaker; thus he felt the need to address it in a statement. 

"The phrase 'Walang gamot sa kakapalan ng mukha mo' (There is no cure for your shamelessness), as expressed by Senator Marcos, reflects a passionate stance on issues we both care deeply about," Romualdez said. 

"Ang pakiusap ko lang kay Senator Imee. Hindi po kailangan ng bastusan. Pinakikinggan tayo ng mga kabataan at hindi magandang ehemplo ang ganito (My appeal to Senator Imee is this: There is no need for disrespect. The youth are listening to us and this is not a good example)," added the Leyte 1st district congressman. 

Comelec has decided unanimously to suspend indefinitely all proceedings concerning PI.  Garcia said that this includes the acceptance of signature sheets by its election officers from various cities and municipalities.

This is to make way for the review, enhancement, and addition to their existing Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) concerning PI.