Senate to release manifesto vs. people's initiative —Zubiri

The Senate will release a manifesto stating its opposition to the ongoing people's initiative to amend the Constitution, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri told reporters in a Viber message on Tuesday.

Zubiri did not share the details of the manifesto, saying he would do so later in the day.

The manifesto came after a caucus among senators on Monday afternoon that focused on the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, a measure proposing amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

A senator who was present at the caucus told GMA Integrated News that "almost all" senators are supportive of the manifesto against the people's initiative. Another senator who attended the meeting said not all the members of the upper chamber were present in the caucus.

Last week, Zubiri said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. himself bucked efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution through people's initiative.

Zubiri said Marcos had asked the Senate to take the lead in reviewing the economic provisions of the Constitution -- a request which was contrary to the Senate president's earlier stand that Charter change is not a priority of the Senate.

This prompted Zubiri, together with the second highest officer in the chamber, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, and Senator Sonny Angara to file Resolution of Both Houses No. 6.

RBH 6 was referred to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes on Monday. —KBK, GMA Integrated News