'Solidarity' armband to protest people's initiative for Cha-cha distributed in Senate

Maroon solidarity armbands were distributed at the Senate on Monday to show solidarity against the ongoing people's initiative efforts for Charter change.

At the entrance of the Senate building, personnel from the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) were seen giving away the armband to all employees and guests if they want to.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was also seen wearing the armband.

"Itong armband is a show of solidarity to the Senate and show of solidarity to the checks and balances of our system, and of course, in protest to the people’s initiative," Gatchalian said in a short interview while wearing the armband.

"Nakikiisa lang tayo sa Senado laban sa people’s initiative na layunin ay tanggalin ang Senado at mawawalan ng checks and balance 'yung ating sistema. 'Pag natuloy itong people’s initiative, isang tao na lang magde-desisyon para amyendahan 'yung ating Konstitusyon. Hindi maganda 'yan para sa atin so makikiisa tayo sa Senado," he added.

(We are one with the Senate against the people's initiative whose aim is to remove the Senate and the system of checks and balance. If the people's initiative pushes through, only one person will decide to amend the Constitution. This is not good for us so we will be one with the Senate.)

In a text message to GMA Integrated News, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. disclosed that the distribution of the armband is an initiative of the Senate employees, the secretariat, and the offices of the senators.

This is "a show of solidarity and support to our institution," he added.

Bantug said they chose maroon as the color of the armband because it is the same color as the Senate flag.

"And to recall, it is also the color chosen by our Senators for their impeachment trial robes," he added.

Manifesto

Last week, the Senate released a manifesto expressing strong opposition against 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, pointed to her cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, as the person behind the people's initiative.

Romualdez meanwhile on Friday said instead of criticizing the House, the Senate should address its supposed failure to approve the priority legislations of the Marcos administration.

"Tapos na ang trabaho ng House of Representatives. Tapos na lahat ng assignment. Iyong senador, hindi pa tapos. Tapusin niyo ang trabaho niyo. Naghihintay ang mga Pilipino. Kadugay (you're slow)," Romualdez said.

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

(You have no business with people's initiative. That's the job of the people. The job of Congress and senators is legislation.) —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News