Marcos seeks inquiry on effectiveness of People’s Initiative for Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines — A Senate inquiry has been sought into the effectiveness of a law that provides for a system of initiative and referendum.

The proposed inquiry was initiated by Senator Imee Marcos through Senate Resolution No. 903 filed on Thursday.

“In order to ensure that there is a realistic avenue for people to propose amendments to the Constitution or to propose national or local legislation, as well as, to approve or reject a local or national law or resolution, there is a need to examine the efficacy of Republic Act (RA) No. 6735 in providing for a system of initiative and referendum,” Marcos said.

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RA No. 6753, otherwise known as the Initiative and Referendum Act, is defined as the power of the people to directly propose, enact, approve, or reject, in whole or in part, the Constitution, laws, ordinances, or resolutions passed by any legislative body.

In her resolution, Marcos likewise noted the absence of available records on the number of times, if any, when RA No. 6735 “has been successfully utilized to [a]ffect a people’s initiative or referendum on local ordinances.”

The senator filed her resolution amid allegations that a people’s initiative method to amend the 1987 Constitution is being conducted.

Marcos earlier said she would not defend the 1987 Constitution,  which she also referred to as the “Aquino Constitution,” but she noted amending it now would be untimely, as the Philippine government has more pressing issues to address.

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