PBA Party-list Rep. Migs Nograles (left), Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte (Facebook)

Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party-list Rep. Margarita “Migs” Nograles has clarified that she's in the United States (US) discussing possible areas of cooperation in livelihood generation for women and the fight against child pornography. 

Nograles, a House assistant majority leader, had this to say Wednesday morning, Jan. 10 after Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte alleged that she had been leading the People’s Initiative (PI) movement in the city. 

Nograles hails from Davao City and is the daughter of the late House Speaker Prospero Nograles. 

In a statement, the lady lawyer-solon said she met with law enforcement and Filipino-American advocacy groups in the US to discuss possible areas of cooperation in the fight against child pornography and livelihood generation for women in the Davao region. 

Nograles said that she had met with representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and various Filipino-American advocacy groups like the “Project Ligtas Bata” and the New Pathways to Enterprise. She was also invited by the New York City Consulate to give a talk to the Filipino community. 

The House leader posted on her social media account several pictures of her visit to the US. She said she also went to the US to visit her sister, who is living in New Jersey. 

“So, I'm here in New Jersey to visit my sister for personal reasons as she needs family right now, which I can't disclose," Nograles. 

She left for the US last Dec. 29.

In a fiery Facebook post late Tuesday night, Duterte wrote: "I was informed that PBA Partylist Rep. Margarita 'Migs' Nograles is spearheading the PI movement in Davao City." 

"I am against this [PI] as this is not the people’s voice but the voice of a few who wanted to perpetuate themselves in power," added the son of former president Rodrigo Duterte. 

A PI is one of the three modes of Charter change (Cha-cha) that is allowed by the 1987 Constitution. The two other modes are a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) and Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass). 

A key requirement of a PI is the gathering of signatures in support of the movement. 

Last week, League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) President and Polangui Mayor Adrian Salceda announced during a meeting of the group's Albay chapter that most of the majors there support the signature drive for constitutional amendments.  

Reports said that 15 of the province’s 18 mayors joined the PI discussions.