Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 15) — The group behind the ad criticizing the 1987 Constitution admitted that it started the drive to collect signatures from Filipino voters to push for charter change via people’s initiative.
“We are the one in the signature campaign. In fact, it is PIRMA (People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action) that is in the forefront of distributing signature forms all over the country,” PIRMA lead convenor Noel Oñate told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Monday.
He also admitted that he spoke to House Speaker Martin Romualdez about the group’s signature campaign.
Earlier, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman revealed that forms were distributed to municipal mayors in the province to gather signatures from voters to push for charter change. It was also reported that the same has been happening in other areas like Valenzuela.
Oñate said PIRMA has been coordinating with congressmen, and their initiative has been receiving support from the public.
“The signature campaign already started last week, and the signature campaign has been gaining ground, especially in the D and E voting areas. In fact in Pasay City, we are expecting 20% turnout,” he added.
Under the law, PIRMA needs 12% of the voting population or 3% per congressional district to sign the campaign for charter change. The Commission on Elections said there are over 91 million registered voters for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.
Oñate said PIRMA has members across many sectors, including businessmen, fishermen, farmers, overseas Filipino workers, non-government organizations, and civic groups. One of their advocacies is to form a unicameral legislative body. Under a unicameral system, there is only one legislative chamber.
“As you see, what’s been happening to our country, it’s like a company with two boards of directors. Because of this, there is always deadlock, delay in decision-making and hindi ito maganda para sa pag-unlad ng ating ekonomiya (this is not good for the development of our economy),” he explained.
He also said they want to further open the Philippine economy to have more foreign investors come in.
The Makabayan bloc has filed a House Resolution urging the lower chamber to investigate issues surrounding the signature campaign.
In another interview, ACT Teachers Party-list France Castro told CNN Philippines she hopes their request will still be granted despite the supposed connection between PIRMA and Romualdez.
“Baka malabo pero siyempre ang Speaker naman open-minded din naman siya. Tingnan natin kung magbibigay din siya ng go signal,” she said.
[Translation: It may not push through but of course the Speaker is also open minded. We’ll see if he will give his go signal.]
