PIRMA lead convenor admits coordinating with Romualdez for Cha-cha signature drive

The lead convenor of People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action (PIRMA) admitted before the Senate on Tuesday that he coordinated with House Speaker Martin Romualdez to get 3% of signatures per congressional district for the people's initiative for Charter change (Cha-cha).

"That was the time that I coordinated with the Speaker… That was the time that I sought the help of the Speaker to help us in the signature campaign,” PIRMA lead convenor Noel Oñate said.

Asked by Senator Imee Marcos if the Speaker is supporting the group PIRMA and is “all out behind the people’s initiative,” Oñate said, “Yes, we coordinate with the Speaker and the congressmen in getting the 3% per congressional district. That’s correct, madam senator.”

Oñate admitted this after Marcos presented a photo of him with Romualdez, Ako-Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, and several lawyers with a caption “People’s Initiative for Charter Change Staff Meeting” dated Jan. 8, 2024.

Oñate explained that he was the one who sought the said meeting, but it was agreed to hold it at the residence of Romualdez.

Initially, Oñate, upon the interpellation of Senator Francis Escudero, said he only met with House constitutional amendments chairman Rufus Rodriguez and former Ako-Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin.

Asked why he did not mention Romualdez and Co in the first set of questions asked by Escudero, the PIRMA lead convenor said, “It slipped my mind.”

The PIRMA lead convenor said the talks on this people’s initiative only started Jan. 2 and he volunteered the information with Garbin.

Oñate explained that the assistance extended by the congressmen to them were merely "administrative" and "advisories" on where to get the signatures.

'Strictly confidential' instructions

The Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation launched an investigation into the alleged payoffs in the signature drive for Charter change on Tuesday.

Corroborating the claims of some lawmakers, several witnesses testified before the Senate panel that they were offered either social aid or money in exchange for their signature for Charter change.

During the hearing, screenshots of messages in a Viber group chat named, "Project People's Initiative", were also revealed.

In the message thread, a certain chief of staff of a Congress member issued instructions that were purportedly "strictly confidential."

"Please be advised of the new guidelines of People's Initiative Project. We need 2 copies each, signatures for the petition, 1 for Comelec, and 1 for secretariat," the Viber message of the chief of staff read.

"For those who will participate in the (people's initiative) project, you are enjoined to submit their request for the following: DSWD (AICS/AKAP) 5M; DOH (MAIP) 10M;  DOLE (TUPAD) 5M," the Viber message read further, apparently referring to assistance programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, and Department of Labor and Employment.

Signature drive

The signature campaign led by PIRMA specifically asks voters if they are in favor of amending Article 17 Section 1 of the Constitution by allowing all members of Congress to jointly vote on proposed constitutional amendments.

This amendment is a departure to the existing provision which does not explicitly state whether the House of Representatives and the Senate should vote jointly or separately on proposed amendments to the Charter via constituent assembly.

These efforts to amend the constitution via people’s initiative has become controversial after several lawmakers disclosed that the public were allegedly bribed or promised with government aids in exchange for their signatures.

The senators slammed these efforts, which they believed was supported by the House of Representatives, particularly Romualdez.

The Senate unanimously released a manifesto against the present people’s initiative efforts, saying the House is out to abolish the Senate given that the document for signature asks voters to if they are in favor of amending the Charter to allow members of Congress to jointly vote on Constitutional amendments, a setup which would consider the vote of 24 Senators and more than 300 House members.

On Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ordered the suspension of all proceedings related to people’s initiative.—AOL/ VDV, GMA Integrated News