Deputy Minority Leader Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, February 5 urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to permanently scrap the ongoing People’s Initiative and stop the acceptance of signatures and all other processes related to it.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros attends the Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes subcommittee's hearing on Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 (RBH 6) on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Senate PRIB Photo)

The Comelec has suspended all processes related to the gathering of signatures last January 26, including the acceptance of signature sheets submitted by the People’s Initiative Reform Modernization Act, the lead organization behind the signature drive.

The poll body cited the lack of adequate procedures to deal with the ongoing process as the reason for suspending the process.

Hontiveros warned that tinkering with the economic provisions of the Constitution will pave way for imminent foreign takeover and exploitation.

“Hindi po solusyon ang Cha-cha kahit sabi nilang purely economic provisions para bawasan ang mga tunay na iniinda natin (Charter change is not the solution even if they claim the review would only be purely economic provisions to ease the woes we are experiencing),” she said.

“I will definitely be one of those not to allow any provisions that will make our critical industries and institutions, and our irreplaceable resources, vulnerable to foreign takeover and exploitation,” Hontiveros stressed.

The opposition senator noted that much of the Philippine economic is already open to foreign participation following the passage of laws and pending legislation targeted to liberalize the economy.

“Among them are RA 10641, or amendments to the Foreign Bank Liberalization Act, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investments Act.

“So much of the Philippine economy is already open to foreign participation. Bukas na bukas na po ang ating tindahan (our economy is ready and open), ladies and gentlemen,” she said.

At the same time, Hontiveros belied Charter change proponents’ claim that the Constitution is “too restrictive.”

“Wag sana nating gawing collateral damage ang Konstitusyon… ang mismong kaluluwa ng bansa (Let’s not use the Constitution as collateral damage… the very soul of the nation),” she appealed.

“We, the Filipino people, will determine our destiny, hindi ‘yung ambisyon lang ng iilan (not just the ambition of the few),” she said.

“Hindi kailangang mag-Cha-cha para dumami ang trabaho, puksain ang kahirapan at pataasin ang kalidad ng buhay ng bansa (We don’t need Cha-cha to increase employment, eradicate poverty and improve the quality of life here in the country),” she reiterated.