Some senators speak out vs people’s initiative before one of PH’s largest religious groups

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 27) — Some senators spoke out against the recent campaign for charter change via people’s initiative (PI) at a prayer gathering of one of the country’s largest religious groups, the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church.

Addressing the massive crowd at Camp Praise Valley in Norzagaray, Bulacan, Senator Joel Villanueva talked about receiving complaints from Filipinos who were supposedly told that they would only receive aid or “ayuda” if they joined the signature campaign.

“'Yun po ang bottom line bakit kami naririto," Villanueva said. "Nais namin i-report sa inyo kung ano ang nangyayari. Nais namin sabihin sa inyo ang epekto ng masamang hangarin ng mga naghaharing uri at gustong manatili sa pwesto until kingdom come."

[Translation: That’s the bottom line why we’re here. We want to report to you what’s happening. We want to tell you the effects of the actions of those in power and who want to remain in power until kingdom come.]

Senator Grace Poe also warns the public against those threatening to withhold aid.

“Gusto ko rin manawagan sa ating mga kababayan — huwag kayong matakot doon sa mga nagsasabing hindi kayo bibigyan ng ayuda, hindi kayo bibigyan ng tulong sapagkat karapatan niyo na makatanggap niyan,” Poe said.

[Translation: I also want to call on our fellow Filipinos — don’t be afraid of those saying you won’t get cash aid or other assistance, because it is your right to receive that.]

Tensions have been rising between the Senate and the House amid developments in the people’s initiative.

Senators recently signed a manifesto saying the PI “proposes only one change: in acting as a constituent assembly, the Senate and the House shall vote jointly. While it seems simple, the goal is apparent -- to make it easier to revise the Constitution by eliminating the Senate from the equation.”

READ: Senate releases manifesto vs 'sinister' people’s initiative

House Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier explained the need to change some economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution in a bid to attract more investors.

“Hindi kami tutol sa Cha-cha..," Senator Imee Marcos said. "Hindi rin kami tutol sa PI. Tutol po kami dito sa PI nila...iyang pekeng initiative na sinusuhulan ang tao."

"Sabi nila economic provisions," she added. "Doon ba sa form na pinipirmahan ng tao, may economic ekek ba doon ni isa? Wala naman. Nakasulat doon voting jointly or separately. Eh ‘di pulitika pa rin ang uwian."

[Translation: We’re not against cha-cha. We’re also not against PI. What we are against is their version of PI, with the name itself already horrible -- the fake initiative where they bribe people. They said economic provisions. In the forms signed by the people, is there anything about economic provisions? There’s none. It says there, voting jointly or separately. That means it all still comes down to political provisions.]

The lawmaker instead called for charter change that would be done in consultation with various sectors.

“Kung gusto talaga na palitan iyang ating mga probisyon sa ating saligang batas, gawin natin sa tamang pamamaraan," the presidential sister said. "Alamin ng tao ang mga isyu, suriin nang maigi, konsultahin ang bawat sektor, at gawing maayos ang pagtatanggap ng mga pirma diyaan sa Comelec, hindi bayaran.”

[Translation: If we really want to amend our Constitution, let’s do it the right way. The public must know the issues, scrutinize, consult every sector, and there’s a need to make sure that the signature campaign is clean and that there’s no bribery.]

The senator also responded to Romualdez’s recent denial of her accusation that he was behind the PI campaign offering social aid in exchange of signatures.

The House speaker called the claim “baseless,” and then challenged Sen. Marcos to prove this in court.

“Ang sagot ko lang, kalma. Kalma lang muna," the senator said. "Inhale, exhale dahil sa Martes pa ang hearing. Huwag kayo nagsisisigaw, deny to death, explain to death.”

[Translation: My only response is to keep calm. Keep calm for now. Inhale, exhale, because the hearing won’t happen until Tuesday. Don’t deny to death or explain to death.]