Zubiri: 'Constitutional crisis' slowly happening due to people’s initiative

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Friday said that a “constitutional crisis” has already started due to the continuous push for a Charter change (Cha-cha) through a people’s initiative allegedly orchestrated by the House leadership.

“The Senate still maintains that this people’s initiative, in its current form and how the signatures are being collected, is flawed and unconstitutional. We have warned about a possible constitutional crisis and tried to avoid it. But unfortunately, it seems that this is slowly happening,” said Zubiri. 

The Senate chief also confirmed that he received the letter of Speaker Martin Romualdez dated January 25 which made mention of an alternative people's initiative led by the Senate on proposed amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

“As for his suggestion of an alternative people’s initiative emanating from the Senate, there have been no discussions on this," said Zubiri.

"We believe that any legitimate people’s initiative must be genuinely led by the people," he added. 

As he acknowledged this “crisis,” Zubiri hoped that this would be averted soon.

“We intend to carefully study the options available to us to maintain the checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution through a bicameral legislature. We remain vigilant for our country and for our people,” he said.

The Senate, earlier this week, filed a manifesto condemning the ongoing people's initiative, which seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution by allowing all members of Congress to jointly vote on proposed constitutional amendments in a constituent assembly.

Senators warned that voting jointly in a constituent assembly would not allow the senators to "cast any meaningful vote against the 316 members of the House of Representatives."

Some senators, including Senator Imee Marcos, point to her cousin, Speaker Romualdez, as the person behind the people's initiative.

Romualdez hits back

Romualdez on Friday maintained that he has no part in the ongoing people's initiative. He also said that those against the ongoing signature drive for amending the 1987 Constitution should file cases before the proper courts.

“[But] regardless of its aspersions being cast on its integrity, it (people's initiative) is underway. If there are allegations, let them file the cases in the respective courts. Let justice take its course. Let the people’s will determine the fate of the nation,” Romualdez said.

The House leader also challenged his cousin, Senator Marcos, to prove her claim about him supposedly dangling P20 million for congressional districts to push for the people's initiative and the timeline for Cha-cha.

“Let her [P20 million per district] prove it. I don’t know where this is all coming from. I respect her as my cousin, as a Senator. She can give me a call, text me anytime but if she prefers to do it before the media, that is her prerogative,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez then underscored that the Senate does not have the sole authority to decide whether it is time for Charter change or not.

“I believe it has never been the intention of the Philippine Constitution to arrogate unto a few senators the people power, particularly the people’s power to stop any discussion on Charter amendments," added Romualdez.

Romualdez also said that members of Congress, especially the senators, should not concern themselves with the people's initiative but instead focus on approving the priority legislations of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

"Wala kayong pakialam sa PI (people's initiative)," Romualdez responded. "Trabaho 'yan ng taumbayan. Ang Congress at senator, ang trabaho, legislation. PI is power of the people. [You senators should] buckle down to work. There is only 24 of you, get your act together," he said.

"Focus on your work. Stop hitting on Congress and maintain parliamentary courtesy," Romualdez added.

(You have no business with people's initiative. That's the job of the people. The job of Congress and senators is legislation.)

In an ambush interview, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said he was open to mediating between the House and Senate leaders, as he shared the view of Zubiri that a constitutional crisis is already beginning.

"If I can be of service to the Palace, to the House, to Senate, why not? That's why I am trying to keep my opinions to myself para may matira pa rin na pwedeng mag-usap. Pag nagsuntukan ang House at ang Senate, ang mabubugbog ang tao," Cayetano said.

"This is the beginning of a constitutional crisis, and we've resolved a lot of constitutional crises whether by the Supreme Court, whether by elections, or whether by one group backing down in the past. Ang kaibahan ngayon, ang aga e. 2024 pa lang. Midterm elections pa lang next year," he added.  

"Pag hindi tayo mag-ayos, iisa lang ang sasabihin sa atin ng taumbayan 'P.I.'''

Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said Romualdez's letter to Zubiri was "confusing" as it does not include the context of the ongoing people's initiative.

"Nakakalito po 'yung sulat. Kasi hindi po eksaktong naka-locate sa konteksto ng mga pangyayari ngayon na napakaraming kababalaghan. At yun na nga po, ang pini-prescribe ay isang mode ng pag-amyenda ng Konstitusyon na hindi proper. Kasi ang People's Initiative ay dapat initiative lamang at gawain lamang ng taong bayan," Hontiveros said in a separate ambush interview.

She also questioned the Senate-led people's initiative floated by Romualdez. 

"Walang ibig sabihin ang people's initiative na alternative dahil Senado naman ang mangunguna. Kahit ang Senado, walang balak agawin sa taong bayan yung mode ng pag-amyenda sa konstitusyon na nakalaan sa taong bayan at hindi nakalaan sa anumang institusyon ng gobyerno," she said.

Earlier in the day, Senator Marcos said she was "confused" by the mention of a Senate-led people's initiative in the letter.

She pointed out that the House, Senate, and President Marcos had already agreed that the upper chamber would lead the discussions on the amendments to the economic provision of the charter through Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, which is currently sidelined because the people's initiative allegedly initiated by the lower chamber is still ongoing. — VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News