Gatchalian: People's initiative caused Senate-House row

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday said the word war between the Senate and House of Representatives only sparked due to the people's initiative, which seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution.

"Wala namang gulo, eh. Ang Senado ay rumeresponde lang sa mga sinasabi ng kongresista," Gatchalian said during a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

"Nag-umpisa lang ang gulo nung tinatanggal nila (Kamara) ang check and balance ng ating bansa. Wala namang ganito [word war between Senate and House] nung wala ang people's initiative," he added.

Gatchalian noted that the Senate session closed peacefully last year, and when January started, the people's initiative was already circulating.

He said the senators objected to this as the initiative seemed to eliminate the checks and balances of our system.

"Hindi naman tama na Kamara lang ang magdedesisyon para sa kinabukasan ng bansa," he said.

Proposed resolution

A resolution expressing “unwavering solidarity and support” for the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez will be filed at the House of Representatives on Monday, February 5, 2024.

The proposed resolution would also push for the upholding of the “integrity and the honor of the House of Representatives in the face of intent assault from the Senate in violation of the principle of inter-parliamentary courtesy and undue interference in the performance of its legislative and constituent functions.”

Gatchalian said, "Dalawa ang mensahe nito. Ipinapakita nito na buong buo pa rin ang suporta kay House Speaker Romualdez. Pangalawa, 'yung sinasabing interference, wala namang nangyayaring interference dahil ang pag-iimbestiga, lumalabas ang pangalan ng mga kongresista."

"Hindi natin maiaalis na dito sa ginagawang imbestigasyon, lumalabas ang kamay ng mga kongresista. Hindi rin maiaalis na sila ang nasa likod ng people's initiative," he added.

"Ang puno't dulo nito ay ang people's initiative. Kung ititigil ang people's initiative, titigil ang lahat ng ito," he added.

On January 23, the 24-member Senate released a manifesto condemning the ongoing people's initiative, which seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution by having all members of Congress jointly vote on proposed constitutional amendments in a constituent assembly.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri read the manifesto during the Senate session or a day after the senators conducted a caucus on Charter change. — DVM, GMA Integrated News