Robin Padilla abstains from Senate manifesto vs people’s initiative

Robin Padilla —SENATE PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robin Padilla has decided to “abstain” from a Senate manifesto against the people’s initiative (PI) method of amending the 1987 Constitution.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri confirmed the manifesto on Tuesday, but it has yet to be made public.

“Ako po ay abstain dyan sa manifesto,” Padilla said in a message to reporters Monday night.

(I abstain from the manifesto)

“Obvious naman po na ako ay sumusuporta sa PI. Ginagawa ko nga po yan sa sarili ko po na kakayahan,”  he said.

(It’s obvious that I support the People’s Initiative. I am already doing it based on my own capability)

Padilla is chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, which previously tackled proposals to amend the Constitution.

In March last year, he released a draft committee report, proposing changes to specific economic provisions of the Constitution.

The report, however, did not prosper as it failed to get the required signatures from committee members.

Last January 15,  a similar resolution was lodged in the upper chamber — this time by  Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Senator Sony Angara.

Their resolution was referred to Padilla’s panel.

Despite this referral, the panel chairman still welcomed the earlier  suggestion to have a subcommittee led by Angara  to tackle the measure.

“Pabor po yan para sa taong-bayan,” Padilla said.

(That is favorable for the people)

“Una, mawala ang biased dahil batid ng lahat na ako ay pro Charter change. Pangalawa walang redundancy hearing, hindi sayang ang pondo ng Bayan.

Pangatlo, bukod sa abogado si Senator Angara bihasa din siya sa ekonomiya at finance.”

(First, this will eliminate biases since everyone knows I am pro-Charter change. Second, there will be no redundant hearings, so the nation’s funds will not be wasted. Third, despite being a lawyer, Senator Angara is also well-versed in economics and finance.”

“Tama po lahat ang ipinag utos ni SP,”  he then said.

(All the orders of the Senate President are correct)