Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 17) — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Wednesday questioned the signature campaign for people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution following reports of vote buying.
“In my opinion, if it can be proven that some signatures were solicited through payment of money or some material of value, or even a promise of something valuable to come in the future, then lagapak na itong people’ s initiative na ito [then this people’s initiative is already a failure],” he told CNN Philippines’ Politics As Usual.
Under Republic Act No. 6735 or the “The Initiative and Referendum Act,” at least 12% of all registered voters must sign the petition to amend the Constitution.
At least 3% of registered voters in each legislative district must be represented in the petition.
Some 400 cities and municipalities nationwide have already received signed forms seeking charter change under a people’s initiative, the Commission on Elections said.
But some lawmakers from both chambers of Congress have flagged the alleged bribery in the signature drive, with up to ₱20 million reportedly being offered to each district to buy signatures.
Pimentel doubts that the public is really eyeing amendments to the Constitution anytime soon.
“From what we know, ako ha [for me], judging from the subject matter of the petition, which is actually procedural, it does not help the stomach of the Filipinos directly,” he said. “So therefore, I doubt if the idea is really coming from the people.”
According to a Pulse Asia survey released last year, Filipinos are split about amending the Constitution. The poll showed 41% are in favor of charter change, while 45% do not see the urgency to make such amendments.
For her part, House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro said that she does not see any reason to amend the 1987 Constitution anytime soon.
“Natatakot kami na baka malusaw yung very essence ng 1987 Constitution on social justice, yung human rights parts, at yung iba na magaganda naman na bahagi ng Constitution,” she said.
[Translation: We are afraid that the very essence of the 1987 Constitution on social justice, on human rights, and other good parts of it might be dissolved.]
House Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier said the lower chamber will again focus on charter change this year.
Meanwhile, Senate President Migz Zubiri recently filed Resolution of Both Houses of Congress which proposes amendments to the 1987 Constitution, covering its economic provisions.
But Pimentel said he will try to “stop” the said resolution in the upper chamber. He added that the motivation behind the filing of the resolution must be questioned.
