Robin Padilla: Keep political ambitions off people's initiative for Cha-cha

Senator Robin Padilla on Wednesday took a swipe at politicians who are allegedly using the power of the people to amend the Constitution to suit their political ambitions.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes issued a statement amid allegations that some public officials are buying signatures and tricking people into signing documents that allegedly portray public clamor to tweak the 1987 Constitution.

"People's initiative: Vox populi, vox Dei. Ang boses ng taongbayan ay boses ng Dios... Pag-usapan nang matino ang people's initiative. Huwag gawing isyu ng politiko at ambisyon ang nag-iisang kapangyarihan ng taongbayan," Padilla said.

(People's initiative: the voice of the people is the voice of God. We must discuss people's initiative thoroughly. Such a power of the people should not be twisted to suit political ambitions.)

"Taumbayan lamang ang makapagdadala ng tunay na pagbabago ng sistema tungo sa ikauunlad ng Bayan. Ibigay natin ang ating suporta sa people's initiative," he added.

(Only the people can bring about true changes in the system, for the betterment of our country. Let us give our support to people's initiative.)

In a Facebook post, Padilla claimed several social services like the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) are being used by several political figures.

"Bawal pumapel d'yan ang pulitiko pero makikita mo sila sa bigayan," he said without mentioning names.

(Politicians are not allowed to meddle in the distribution of these social aids but you can see them in the events.)

Padilla also reiterated that the time is ripe for Charter change (Cha-cha) via people's initiative.

"Ito na ang panahon para maresolba ang naiwang tanong sa ating Saligang Batas patungkol sa pag-amyenda o rebisyon ng ating Constitution. Tanging taongbayan na lamang ang maaring magdesisyon," he said.

(Now is the time to resolve the remaining question in our Constitution regarding amendments to the Charter. Only the people can decide.)

On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III raised the need to investigate the alleged payment of P100 in exchange for a person's signature for the people’s initiative campaign in a bid to revise the 1987 Constitution.

Pimentel issued the remark after Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel raised the allegations last Monday.

Lagman claimed earlier this week that Legazpi City Mayor Alfredo Garbin and Ako Bicol party-list Representative Jill Bongalon were present during a January 5 meeting with municipal mayors where  party-list coordinators allegedly received an unspecified amount of money to ensure that their constituents will provide the required 3% of total voters per municipality for a people's initiative to gain ground in amending the Constitution.

"Doon sa meeting na 'yon, namigay ng 50% ng P100 per voter. Ang sabi susunod 'yung balance na 50%," Lagman said in a "24 Oras" report.

As per Lagman, three mayors from his district returned the money.

Garbin, in a statement in response to Lagman, said no money was released during the Jan. 5 meeting.

Bongalon, for his part, admitted he was at the meeting as a resource person but belied Lagman's claims of money changing hands to those present.

Manuel, meanwhile, said his office received reports from the Urban Poor Coordinating Council that certain community leaders are making beneficiaries of government subsidies sign forms pushing for Charter change, telling them that the move is needed in order for them to continue receiving government aid.

Manuel even retweeted a video allegedly showing AICS and TUPAD programs under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) being used in efforts to push for Charter change.

Senator Imee Marcos also alleged that "congressmen [and] local executives are asked to provide lists of beneficiaries," adding these beneficiaries "could be their staff [and] coordinators' relatives."

Speaker Martin Romualdez said last year that 2024 is the right time to push for Charter change. Many of his allies in the Lower House said a people's initiative is the course that it should take since the Senate would hinder a Constitutional Convention after it is approved by the House of Representatives.

Under the 1987 Constitution, any amendment to or revision of the Constitution may be proposed by:

• the Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its Members (constituent assembly)
• a constitutional convention during which Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, call a constitutional convention, or by a majority vote of all its members, submit to the electorate the question of calling such a convention, and
• a people’s initiative upon a petition of at least 12% of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least 3% of the registered voters therein

Under Republic Act 6735, revisions via the public can happen if a petition for an initiative on the 1987 Constitution must have at least 12% of the total number of registered voters as signatories. For each district, no fewer than 3% of registered voters should sign the petition. The signatures would then be verified by the Commission on Elections.

Farmers' support

Meanwhile, former Magsasaka party-list Representative Argel Cabatbat said various farmers' groups in the country have expressed support for the people's initiative for constitutional amendment.

“We, in the farming sector, are honored to announce our active role in spearheading the People’s Initiative. This is a movement deeply rooted in empowering the Filipino people and is supported by the unwavering commitment of our farmers' groups, civic organizations, and local government leaders,” Cabatbat, one of the petitioners for the people's initiative, said in a press release.

Cabatbat also said Lagman's claim was "an insult to the prime-movers of the People’s Initiative who spent their own money as well as to private donors who donated the printed forms needed for the signature campaign."  —with Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA Integrated News