People’s Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action (PIRMA) National Lead Convenor Noel Oñate said that they sought the help of House Speaker Martin Romualdez as well as other congressmen in their signature drive for their People's Initiative (PI) push to amend the 1987 Constitution.
During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation on Tuesday, Jan. 30, Oñate said that they had no coordination with Romualdez and other congressmen in planning for the PI push.
He initially stated that he met with House Constitutional Amendments chairman Rufus Rodriguez and former Ako-Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin.
But he later retracted this after a photo was flashed showing him together with Romualdez in a supposed meeting on PI, later stating that "it slipped his mind". Also in the photo dated Jan. 8, 2024, was House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.
He also confirmed that the meeting took place at Romualdez' residence in Forbes Park.
"So it's very clear that Speaker Martin Romualdez is supporting your group po," Marcos said.
She then asked Oñate: "He is all out behind the People's Initiative, is that correct?"
To which he replied: "Yes we coordinate with the speaker and the congressmen in getting the three percent per congressional district. That's correct, madam senator."
"Mga tao namin pupunta sa isang distrito makikipag-coordinate sila sa congressman (Our people will go to one district and coordinate with the congressman) because it's the congressman who is in turn the CEO of the district. Distrito niya yun eh so natural lamang na pupuntahan namin yung congressman (It's their district, so it's natural that we go to the congressman)," he explained.
Oñate also stated that they did discuss an estimated timeline to finish the PI push. In terms of advise, he stated that congressmen told them where a lot of people can sign the PI and they were pointed to the C and D sector since 75 to 80 percent of voters belong to this market.
He also said that while they can proceed with the process on their own, it would be slower without the help of congressmen.
"Mas mabilis kung may tulong ng kongresista (It's a lot faster with the help of congressmen) pinpointing to us where to get the signatures," he added.
The House of Representatives (HOR) and the Senate have differing stands when amending the 37-year-old Constitution. Reports have been reaching senators that the HOR is behind the ongoing signature drive for People's Initiative (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 recently issued a manifesto strongly expressing their opposition to the ongoing attempts to change the 1987 Constitution through a PI. In the manifesto, the Senate expressed strong objections to eliminating the Upper Chamber’s role in introducing amendments or even overhauling the Constitution.
The PI, Con-Ass (Constituent Assembly), Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) comprise the three ways that the 1987 Constitution can be amended.