House Speaker Martin Romualdez FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The House of Representatives neither endorses nor sanctions lawmakers鈥� participation in a People鈥檚 Initiative, but the legislative chamber would continue to respect any proposal that would represent the will of the people, according to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Romualdez on Tuesday said that while they believe the People鈥檚 Initiative is a 鈥渄irect expression of the people鈥檚 will,鈥� the House has not endorsed the campaign so that the process鈥� integrity would not be affected.
鈥淚n response to the discourse surrounding the People鈥檚 Initiative, I wish to restate the House of Representatives鈥� commitment to this essential democratic process. The People鈥檚 Initiative stands as a direct expression of the people鈥檚 will, providing a means for citizens to propose constitutional amendments,鈥� Romualdez said in a statement.
鈥淭he House does not endorse or sanction direct participation by its members in signature gathering, ensuring the process鈥檚 integrity and independence remains intact,鈥� he added.
According to Romualdez, they would continue to respect any People鈥檚 Initiative campaign, as it is one of the modes to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Similarly, the Speaker said that he denounces any allegations of bribery or unethical practices that are attached to the said process.
鈥淲hile the House respects and supports the People鈥檚 Initiative as an independent, citizen-driven process, our role is to facilitate and encourage democratic participation without direct involvement in signature collection. We are committed to ensuring that proposals are processed in accordance with legal and constitutional guidelines, maintaining the integrity of our Constitution in subsequent legislative actions,鈥� Romualdez said.
鈥淚 vehemently denounce any allegations of bribery or unethical practices in persuading citizens to sign the petition for the People鈥檚 Initiative. Such actions, if true, would violate the initiative鈥檚 spirit of honest and voluntary participation and erode our democratic foundations,鈥� he added.
Romualdez did not specify what particular issue he was reacting to, but at least two Senate members 鈥� Senator Ronald dela Rosa and Senator Joel Villanueva 鈥� have pinpointed the House leadership as people behind the People鈥檚 Initiative.
The Speaker denied dela Rosa鈥檚 claim that he is behind such moves, saying that there have been no orders from him about starting a People鈥檚 Initiative.
READ: Speaker denies issuing order to initiate people鈥檚 initiative /1892544/fwd-romualdez-on-denying-giving-orders-for-peoples-initiative
JUST IN: Many senators are no longer interested in pushing for the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 or the measure that seeks to amend certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, said Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva.
鈥� Charie Abarca (@charieabarcaINQ)
Just earlier, after session started, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri read a manifesto signed by all 24 Senators rejecting the use of a People鈥檚 Initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Romualdez, for his part, reminded the public that it would be important to assess the Constitution as the economic restrictions can be eased and allow more foreign investments into the country.
鈥淓choing my previous statements, the entry of foreign capital and direct investments is crucial for our economy. It necessitates a reexamination of the Constitution, particularly its economic provisions, to remove growth barriers. The recent collaboration with the Senate, led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and the filing of Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, reflects a unified commitment to constitutional reform,鈥� he said.
READ: House passes bill to implement RBH No. 6 for creation of con-con to amend charter聽
鈥淭his joint effort underscores our resolve to establish a reformed, responsive, and result-oriented constitutional framework. We envision an economy open to the investments needed to generate businesses, jobs, and livelihoods for Filipinos,鈥� he added.
READ: House OKs reso calling for Con-con to amend 1987 Constitution on third reading聽
Last December, House leaders Speaker Romualdez and Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., resurfaced proposals for a聽charter聽change聽to amend the 1987 Constitution鈥檚 restrictive economic provisions, as a way of letting more foreign investments in.
READ: Romualdez mulling revisiting Cha-cha for economic provision amendments聽
The House already passed in March 2023 RBH No. 6 and a bill that would implement it, but it failed to move at the Senate.聽聽This led the House leaders to speculate the possibility of a People鈥檚 Initiative being formed instead of other ways to amend the Constitution 鈥斅犅燾onstituent assembly or a constitutional convention.