House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe.
From the Facebook post of Zamboanga City Rep. Jose Manuel Dalipe
MANILA, Philippines — House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, of the 2nd district of Zamboanga, asked senators who are now reportedly against Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 if they only fed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with lies during a previous meeting.
Dalipe on Tuesday was referring to reports of a previous agreement between Marcos and Congress leaders — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez — that the Senate would initiate the push for Charter change by filing RBH No. 6.
READ: Done deal? Zubiri says House OK to adopt Senate version of Cha-cha
RBH No. 6 is a resolution approved by the House last March 2023, calling for a constitutional convention to amend the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions.
However, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva now says that many senators are no longer interested with RBH No. 6 because the House supposedly is behind a People’s Initiative — another way of changing the constitution.
“His (Villanueva) assertion that ‘a lot of senators are not interested anymore in pushing for’ Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 — an essential measure aimed at convening a constitutional assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution — raises serious concerns,” Dalipe said.
“Furthermore, if Senator Villanueva’s assertions are accurate, it is indeed regrettable that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been fed with false information, having been led to believe that the Senate had already pledged its support for constitutional economic reforms, as earlier announced by Senate President […] Zubiri,” he added.
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. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/FlKwPxjKMj
— Charie Abarca (@charieabarcaINQ) January 23, 2024
Dalipe also took offense to claims that the House, particularly Romualdez, is behind the push for a People’s Initiative. According to the House Majority Leader, such accusations that are not backed up with proof is disheartening.
“If Senator Villanueva’s assertion holds true, it is disheartening that certain senators perceive ghosts without substantial evidence. Unjustly implicating Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez in relation to the people’s initiative only serves to foster unwarranted doubts and distractions,” Dalipe said.
“These claims, grounded in allegations linking the House leadership to the people’s initiative, are not only baseless but also regrettably cast a shadow over the collaborative efforts required for constitutional reforms,” he added.
At least two Senate members — Villanueva and Senator Ronald dela Rosa — have pinpointed the House leadership as those behind the signature campaign for the People’s Initiative.
In response, the Speaker denied these claims, saying that he has not given any order to start a People’s Initiative.
READ: Speaker denies issuing order to initiate people’s initiative
Just earlier, after session started, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri read a manifesto signed by all 24 senators rejecting the use of a People’s Initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Senators fear that if the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions are changed through a People’s Initiative — basically a campaign signature from a specific number of voters to initiate a plebiscite on constitutional amendments — they would be left out because the House wants joint voting, and not separate.
There are only 24 senators compared to over 300 House members, which means that if both chambers of Congress are to vote jointly, any decision by the Senate may be overrun.
READ: Senate manifesto nixes people’s initiative, warns of no-el scenario
But Dalipe said he is confused as to why it seems Romualdez and the House are being accused of leading the People’s Initiative when the House leader even lauded the Senate’s filing of RBH No. 6, calling it a show of unity between the two chambers.
“Speaker Romualdez has even extended a welcoming hand in response to the Senate’s favorable pronouncement on constitutional economic reforms, highlighting a collaborative approach for the greater good of the Filipino people,” Dalipe said.
“Amidst this disturbing development, it is worth noting that over the past 36 years, the Senate has unfortunately blocked repeatedly efforts to amend the outdated 1987 Constitution and depriving the Filipino people of a better Philippines. It is crucial that we set aside our differences and unite in our efforts to bring about meaningful constitutional reforms that will positively impact our nation,” he added.