House resolution hits Senate for 'undermining integrity' amid Cha-cha probe

The House of Representatives on Monday adopted a resolution taking a swipe at the Senate for "undermining" the chamber's independence following an investigation that linked Speaker Martin Romualdez to the Charter change (Cha-cha) signature campaign.

In House Resolution 1562, the majority of the lawmakers also expressed support for Romuladez's leadership.

“With its slogan 'One House, One Voice,' the House of Representatives stands united in rejecting the unfounded accusations, commits itself to defend the dignity and integrity of the institution, and gives its full and unwavering support to the Speaker,” it said.

At least 250 House members signed the measure.

The measure stated the Senate is targeting Romualdez in its ongoing inquiry on the alleged cash-for-signature scheme under a People’s Initiative (PI) for Cha-cha.

Earlier in the day, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said senators would not stop the ongoing inquiry on the PI amid controversies.

In response to the resolution, the Senate leadership maintained that their position is in defense of the Senate as an institution, not an “intense assault” against anybody.

“It is unfortunate that it had to come down to this... I have not said derogatory things about any member of the House of Representatives. All my privilege speeches and statements…have been about the institution, about the bicameral nature of Congress, about checks and balances. I am not targeting any personality,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

“They felt assaulted, how? If the [Senate] Committee on Electoral Reforms is just performing its duties, they’ re dealing with facts. The facts have been coming out, whether it is for or against the topic at hand. As far as we are concerned, we're back to work,” Zubiri said.

According to the resolution, on January 30, 2024, the Senate conducted an investigation "without a clear legislative purpose, specifically directed at discrediting the Honorable Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and the House of Representatives."

It added, "While taking criticisms is part and parcel of a healthy and working democracy, the House takes exception to the recent statements and allegations made by the Senate that undermine the independence, reputation, and integrity of the House of Representatives and the leadership of the Speaker."

During the January 30 Senate inquiry, People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action (PIRMA) lead convenor Noel Oñate admitted that he coordinated with Speaker Romualdez to get 3% of signatures per congressional district for the PI for Cha-cha. 

“The House of Representatives expresses its strong objection to the accusations, viewing them as a breach of interparliamentary courtesy and a challenge to the integrity of the parliamentary institution. The confrontational tactics used by the Senate are detrimental to the spirit of cooperative governance and the public's confidence in parliamentary processes,” the resolution said.

Prior to the January 30 Senate probe, Senator Imee Marcos has also said she received reports that her cousin, Speaker Romualdez, is behind PI efforts for Cha-cha by offering government aid in exchange for the voters’ signature.

But House Resolution 1562 justified the PI by citing that Cha-cha through the initiative is provided under the Philippine Constitution “upon petition of at least twelve percentum of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum of the registered voters therein.”

“In the course of gathering the signatures of the people by private individuals, the Senate has adopted a confrontational stance by accusing the Speaker and the Members of the House of Representatives of engaging in a fraudulent people’s initiative and alleging the use of bribery and government funds to unlawfully gather signatures," it said.

"In the face of these unfounded indictments, the Speaker has taken the cudgels in shepherding the members in steadfastly defending the integrity and honor of the House of Representatives by strictly discerning and observing mutual deference to a co-equal legislative body,” it added.

The House earlier called on the Senate to stop the probe on the ongoing PI efforts for Cha-cha, saying there is no clear cut evidence of unlawful activities involved in the program.

Prior to the call for the Senate to halt the probe, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has also stopped accepting signatures involving PI for Cha-cha, citing a lack of executory laws. —LDF, GMA Integrated News