Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19) — Vice President Sara Duterte expressed concern over the urgent push to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, hitting officials for “exploiting poverty” through an alleged signature-buying campaign for a people’s initiative.
Duterte urged Filipinos to safeguard the charter amid bribes for voter signatures nationwide, including her hometown Davao.
“Mga kababayan, ang isinasagawang ‘Pera kapalit ng pirma para sa People’s Initiative’ ay patuloy na nangyayari araw-araw sa siyudad ng Davao at iba pang bahagi ng Pilipinas,” she said in a statement on Friday.
“Ito ay pagsasamantala sa kahirapan ng ating mga mamamayan at kawalan ng respeto sa kanilang karapatan na magdesisyon nang malaya, walang takot, o impluwensya gamit ang salapi,” Duterte added.
[Translation: Fellow Filipinos, the ‘Money for signature for the People’s Initiative’ continues to happen every day in the city of Davao and other parts of the Philippines. This is exploitation of poverty of our citizens and lack of respect for their right to decide freely, without fear, or the influence of money.]
The vice president said the practice reflects the habit of vote-buying by politicians during elections.
Duterte’s statement comes weeks after a number of lawmakers said some officials have been releasing funds for a ₱100 per voter campaign to change the charter via people’s initiative.
READ: Will Cha-cha finally push through via people’s initiative?
The officials and groups identified have since denied the allegations and the use of government programs to entice voters to support the move.
‘Put the Philippines first’
In the same statement, Duterte said other issues need more attention than amending the Constitution to draw in more foreign investments.
“Ang patuloy na pagsulong sa people’s initiative at charter change, sa kabila ng laganap na kahirapan at kawalan ng katiyakan sa ating kapayapaan at kaayusan, ay masakit na palatandaan sa kabiguang matukoy ang tunay na mga problema ng mga Pilipino at solusyonan ang mga ito,” the vice president said.
[Translation: The continued progress in the people’s initiative and charter change, despite widespread poverty and uncertainty in our peace and order, is a painful sign of the failure to identify real problems of Filipinos and its solutions.]
“Sana ay unahin nating pag-usapan ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino kaysa sa pagpapapasok sa mga dayuhan sa ating bansa. Unahin muna natin ang Pilipinas (I hope we will first discuss the welfare of Filipinos rather than allowing foreigners into our country. Let’s put the Philippines first),” she added.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier said it received signature forms from about 600 cities and towns for the people’s initiative that seeks to authorize lawmakers to vote together in amending the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri revealed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asked the Senate to lead the charter review, in particular the economic provisions.
Zubiri has filed a resolution of both houses of Congress, which proposes amendments to economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, covering reforms to the Public Services Act, education, and advertising.
