Donors who contributed funds for the airing of the controversial P55-million “Edsapwera” television commercial had declined to have their names revealed to the public.

Sen. Imee R. Marcos, on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, presides over the continuation of the Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation hearing on the controversial People Initiative (PI) signature drive spearheaded by the People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action (PIRMA). (Senate PRIB Photo)

During Tuesday’s hearing, February 13, 2024,This was disclosed by Noel Oñate, People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reforms Action (PIRMA) convenor, during the continuation of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation’s inquiry into the People’s Initiative (PI) signature campaign drive.

Senators have earlier pressed PIRMA executives, which has been leading the PI signature drive, to provide the Senate the names of the donors of the advertisement that advocated for Charter change.

“The reason they gave me is that they are concerne dwith their privacy. They are concerned with their security,” Oñate told senators during the Senate inquiry led by Sen. Imee Marcos, chair of the electoral reforms panel.

Marcos, however, found it suspicious pointing out there is no issue of security or privacy when it comes to a public disclosure on the donors. 

“I think it’s a matter of pride as a committed citizen that you are advocating constitutional change,” she pointed out. 

PIRMA legal counsel Alex Avisado backed Oñate, telling the committee that he sought the consent of his contributors, “but, unfortunately, refused to allow him to divulge their names.”

As a result, Oñate was forced to return their contributions.

But Marcos said such action is confusing: “What you’re saying is that since you cannot produce the names of the donors, you decided to withdraw the money and just give it back to them? It seems absurd to me.”

Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay also said she is perplexed why donors of the PIRMA would suddenly invoke privacy. 

“Shouldn’t they be ready and proud to declare that they are advocating this Charter change, this People’s Initiative?” Binay quizzed PIRMA executives.

“I’m surprised that all of a sudden, it seems to me, that they no longer believe the advocacy they funded,” the lawmaker lamented.

Senators also grilled PIRMA officials over its failure to submit the documents required from them by the committee. 

“From the PIRMA, we still have not received the actual cost of printing of the signature forms,” Marcos pointed out.

Marcos recalled that Rep. Rodante Marcoleta himself made some estimates and promised to submit it to the committee.

“And yet, we do not have the cost of printing. Until today we do not have the list of donors from the advertisement and the proof of payment of the donors’ tax,” she lamented.