OUTCRY | Police officers are on standby as groups allied with the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan stage a protest in front of the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Monday to condemn what they call the 鈥渟elf-serving鈥� Charter change initiative promoted by leaders of the lower chamber. (Photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday denied any link to push Charter change (Cha-cha) via people鈥檚 initiative (PI).
He told reporters that he gave no order to members of the House of Representatives to undertake such a campaign, after Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, in a news conference earlier on Monday, linked him to the signature drive behind the PI effort.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what he鈥檚 talking about,鈥� Romualdez said.
In his news conference, Dela Rosa supported allegations of bribery in the signature drive, as earlier claimed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman of the opposition Liberal Party.
In Davao City, people who were convinced to sign a petition for Charter change 鈥渨ere issued claim stubs, probably for Tupad or the AICS,鈥� Dela Rosa said, referring to the welfare programs Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers of the Department of Labor and Employment, and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
鈥淭here鈥檚 P3,000, there鈥檚 P100,鈥� said the senator and former chief of the Philippine National Police, who headed the Davao City police from 2012 to 2013.
Asked who were behind the signature drive there, Dela Rosa answered, 鈥淐ongressmen in Davao except Congressman Polong and Congressman Ungab鈥� 鈥� referring to Rep. Paolo Duterte, the oldest son of former President Rodrigo Duterte and who represents the first congressional district, and third district Rep. Isidro Ungab.
Pressed further if the people鈥檚 initiative campaign had the go-ahead of the Speaker, he said: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what the congressman told me.鈥�
Dela Rosa refused to name the lawmaker, saying he might be reprimanded.
鈥淢any congressmen are saying they were just ordered by the leadership,鈥� he said.
Report bribery
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Monday, for his part, urged the public to report any incident of bribery in the signature drive.
鈥淚f there is anyone out there who was tricked or deceived into signing and wants to complain and retract their support, don鈥檛 be afraid to come forward and report it. Send us or post a video, picture or screenshot of texts showing there was bribery,鈥� he said in a video message to reporters.
鈥淸O]ur people should not be bought, bribed and deceived. It is important that our people are aware and given the right information. They should not be given aid or money in exchange for their signatures,鈥� Villanueva said.
He also appealed to those behind it 鈥渢o not deceive the people that we need the Charter change to solve society鈥檚 problems.鈥�
鈥淭his is not the answer to hunger, unemployment, the looming El Ni帽o, and the constant increase in the price[s] of basic commodities,鈥� Villanueva said.
Protest
Also on Monday, hundreds of activists gathered outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City to protest the PI campaign.
鈥淧oliticians have been maliciously misusing the delivery of government aid and subsidies to solicit signatures for Cha-cha,鈥� activist group Bayan said in a statement.
鈥淚nstead of Cha-cha, Congress should focus on passing laws that will uplift the conditions of the people such as substantial wage hike, free land distribution, and support for local producers,鈥� the group added.
The National Federation of Peasant Women of the Philippines (Amihan) also joined the protest.
鈥淲e should be critical especially since we cannot expect anything from Marcos because his policies and programs favor the foreigners. Amihan, together with the peasant women in the country, will continue to resist and fight against this,鈥� said Kay Zenaida Soriano, the group鈥檚 president.
Earlier on Sunday, Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of the Diocese of Kidapawan, the provincial capital of Cotabato, read a pastoral to churchgoers cautioning them against Charter change.
鈥淒o not sign documents or paper without any information and explanation. This is not a 鈥榩eople鈥檚 initiative.鈥� This is the initiative of some politicians who have selfish motives and greed for power,鈥� Bagaforo said.
鈥淭his is for you to know that our present 36-year-old Constitution does not need any amendment or revision. Instead, it needs to be enforced, to be observed and followed,鈥� he added.