Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) — House Speaker Martin Romualdez denied on Monday giving orders for lawmakers to gather signatures for the people’s initiative for charter change.
Earlier in the day, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said he received information from a congressman who said Romualdez was behind moves to amend the 1987 Constitution.
\”That’s Senator Bato talking. I don’t know what he’s talking about. He has not mentioned any congressman,\” Romualdez told reporters.
Asked if he gave any order for lawmakers to gather signatures for a people’s initiative, Romualdez said: \”No orders.\”
In his news conference, Dela Rosa said lawmakers who were pushing for the people’s initiative were \”just following orders.\”
When asked further if Romualdez was behind it, the senator said: \” Yun ang sabi sa akin ng congressman, eh.\” He did not name the \”congressman.\”
He also claimed that in Davao City, people who signed the forms for the people’s initiative received \”claim stubs\” for as much as ₱3,000.
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The senator said \”congressmen\” were distributing the alleged claim stubs, but Davao City Representatives Paolo Duterte and Isidro Ungab were not part of them.
The People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action (PIRMA) admitted that it began the drive to collect signatures from voters to push for charter change via people’s initiative.
The petition is proposing to modify a constitutional provision that would order the House and Senate to vote jointly, instead of separately, in amending the Constitution.
PIRMA lead convenor Noel Oñate said he spoke to Romualdez about the group’s signature campaign.
READ: Pro-Cha-cha group admits initiating signature drive, talking with Romualdez
Last month, Romualdez said charter change will be a top House priority in 2024.
