MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Two lawmakers in the House of Representatives asked the Senate on Friday not to interfere in the present process of the people鈥檚 initiative (PI) to amend the 1987 Constitution.
A Senate investigation on the alleged anomalies of the PI is ongoing, led by the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people鈥檚 participation.
READ: Comelec halts people鈥檚 initiative proceedings on Charter change
According to 1-Rider Partylist Rodge Gutierrez, the Senate investigation is becoming a 鈥渨itch-hunt directed against the House.鈥�
鈥淭hat is why we appeal to the Senate to stop meddling in the process of the people鈥檚 initiative. Their investigation is turning into a witch-hunt obviously directed against the House,鈥� Gutierrez said.
Lanao del Sur First District Representative Zia Adiong added that the Senate should stop the investigation and instead let the Commission on Elections (Comelec) investigate if there are anomalies in the signature-gathering.
鈥淭he Senate should now stop the investigation and allow the Comelec to do its work. The Comelec is the proper agency to investigate if there is an anomaly in the process of signature gathering. The poll agency is mandated to verify the signatures, as prescribed in the Constitution itself,鈥� said Adiong.
On January 29, the Comelec suspended its proceedings regarding the PI and directed its regional offices to stop receiving signature sheets.
Meanwhile, on February 14, the Comelec also approved a withdrawal form for people who have signed the signature sheet for the PI but want to withdraw from it.
鈥淪a pagbawi ng mga pirma, sana lang ay gawin ito nang kusang-loob ng mga mamamayan at hindi dahil tinakot o binayaran sila. Igalang natin ang buong proseso at hayaan ang malayang kapasyahan ng mga mamamayan,鈥� Adiong said.
(In withdrawing signatures, I hope citizens do so voluntarily and not because they were intimidated or paid. Let鈥檚 respect the whole process and let the public freely decide.)
READ: Comelec OKs 鈥榳ithdrawal form鈥� to void Cha-cha petition signatures