MANILA, Philippines – House lawmakers who are firm on pushing charter change, including House Speaker Martin Romualdez, are welcome to attend the Senate hearing on the controversial People’s Initiative campaign on Tuesday, January 30.
Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson for the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, made this clear in an interview on Super Radyo DZBB on Sunday amid ongoing simultaneous rival rallies illustrating a Marcos-Duterte showdown in Manila and Davao.
Marcos said that anyone who wanted to participate and clear his name about the controversies surrounding the signature drive would be duly acknowledged and heard.
“Very courteous naman kami. Hindi naman kami nagsu-subpoena, hindi naman kami nag-papaaresto. Ang sinasabi ko lang kung gusto ninyong linisin ang pangalan ninyo at masantabi ‘yung mga haka haka, ‘yung kuro kuro eh magprisinta na lang kayo at pumunta na rin kayo,” said Imee.
“Sigurado namang kikilalanin ko kayo at pagsasalitain,” she said.
A supposed people’s initiative has been hounding the headlines lately after issues of massive signature-gathering marred by bribery allegations to obtain support to amend the 1987 Constitution surfaced.
In a virtual press briefing, Marcos herself pinned her cousin as the one “definitely” behind the distribution of a supposed P20 million per district funding to bankroll the ongoing signature campaign.
Romualdez has repeatedly denied this and even dared the senator to prove her allegations in any court.
“Like I said,” Senator Marcos said, relax lang muna at masyado silang defensive, masyado silang deny to death. Martes pa naman ang hearing. Pakikinggan natin lahat at sabi ko nga lahat ng gusto magsalita at kumbidado naman.”
Evidence
Marcos said she had obtained evidence proving per position, but witnesses were hesitant to appear in fear of the safety and welfare of their constituency.
“Ito nga ‘yung problema natin ano, dahil andami-dami talagang nagsusumbong, sangkatutak na texts ang pinapadala, ang problema lang, natatakot lahat na humarap na mga opisyal natin, BHW, SK, barangay officials, ‘yung mga mayor, kinakabahan eh kasi baka maghiganti, mawala lahat ng project nila,” she said.
Marcos said she was now trying to find a way to protect the witnesses. The pieces of evidence obtained by the media like video clips will also be helpful, she said.
“Sigurado ko mapo-prove natin na nagkabayaran ang problema kung sino nag-utos,” she said.
“We will carry on doing its work. The Senate will carry on hearing all the witnesses on Tuesday, I’m going to conduct the hearing at ten o’clock. Tignan natin, sana tumapang at lumakas ang loob ng ating mga testigo at humarap at sabihin ang totoo kung ano yung mga pangyayari saka kung ano yung mga karanasan nila. Ang mga trabaho namin tuloy-tuloy pa rin wala naman tigil,” she said.
Just as it is crucial to know who is behind the signature campaign, Marcos asserted that it is critical to know the proper process of amending the constitution.
“Nais ko rin malaman sa mga dalubhasa, experts mga constitutional lawyers kung ano ‘yung tamang pamamaraan kasi yung con-con, kabisado natin ‘yun eh, saka ‘yung con-ass pero ‘yung PI first time in the history ‘yan,” she said.
“Walang proseso na nakatakda na maayos kaya ‘yun ang dapat nating tuklasin at nang hindi tayo mauwi dito sa kalokohan, kabulastugan ng bayaran ng pirma,” she said.
Marcos clarified that she is not against charter change, it is trampling on people’s innocence to obtain support for the initiative is what she is opposed to.
“Well tignan natin, hindi naman ako kontra sa chacha, hindi naman ako kontra sa PI mismo ayoko lang nitong binibili ang boto at sinasamantala ang kamangmangan at kahirapan ng nakararaming mamamayan,” she said.
“Maliwanag na tututulan natin ‘yung PI nila kasi hindi tayo papayag sa suhulan. Hindi tayo papayag sa binibiling pirma. Hindi tayo papayag na ginagamit ang pera ng bayan para bumili ng posisyon, term extension, at kung anu-ano pa ‘yung no limit on terms,” she said.
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