Speaker denies issuing order to initiate people’s initiative

House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FACEBOOK PAGE)

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday denied issuing a directive to start a people’s initiative in a bid to amend the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions, adding that he does not know what Senator Ronald dela Rosa was talking about.

Romualdez was asked about de la Rosa’s statements in a separate briefing, where the senator said that a House member informed him that it was the speaker who ‘waved his hand’ to initiate a people’s initiative

“Ah si Senator Bato […] I don’t know what he’s talking about; he has not mentioned any congressman… so again, I don’t respond to general statements,” Romualdez said on the sidelines of the Congress TV channel launch at the House complex.

“No orders,” Romualdez added.

Earlier, Dela Rosa said he got information from a House member that Romualdez is behind the push for people’s nitiative — a way to amend the Constitution, which is being supported by some majority lawmakers.

When dela Rosa was asked if it was Romualdez who ordered the People’s Initiative,he answered in the affirmative — according to his source. 

He, however, refrained from revealing his source as the lawmaker may be only following orders.

“Oo naman (It’s really him),” dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa also spoke against the proposed joint vote for the Senate and the House of Representatives to amend the Constitution.

“[M]awala na yung bicameralism natin dyan, mawala na yung bicameralism, mawala pa yung checks and balances. Kung ano gusto nila,  sila na masusunod. Kahit ayaw namin, overruled kami dahil 24 against 322,” said dela Rosa.

(We will lose our bicameralism here. The checks and balances will be gone. They will get what they want.. We will be  overruled because we’re only 24 against 322.)

Majority Floor Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, meanwhile, said that it is confusing why the people’s initiative would be attributed to Romualdez when the speaker has thanked the Senate for pushing for Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6.

RBH No. 6 was filed and approved in 2023, which calls for a constitutional convention to ease economic restrictions on foreign ownership in the 1987 Constitution.

“The Speaker has already thanked the Senate for finally taking action on our push to amend certain economic provisions of the Constitution. The House has been pushing this since 1987 and this has been an advocacy of the Speaker since he became a congressman and now as a Speaker,” Dalipe said.