Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, shown here in a photo taken in October 2023. ( File photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — The people’s initiative (PI) to amend the Constitution is more of a “politician’s initiative” that seems to be geared towards “opening political provisions” and even “lifting term limits,” Sen. JV Ejercito said in a statement on Sunday.
“The Senate has always been agreeable to Constitutional Amendments to the Economic Provisions. House of Representatives want a shift to Unicameral form so that there would not be anymore a check and balance mechanism,” Ejercito said.
“That seems to be the primary reason for their push to open political provisions, not to mention lift term limits. So there’s ‘forever.’ The PI is definitely a politician’s initiative,” he added.
Likewise, Sen. Grace Poe pointed out that the initiative only pushes for the advancement of political interests despite more critical issues that the country should focus on.
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For his part, Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda defended House Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez’s speech on the issue.
Salceda said that the lower chamber recognized “the people’s initiative as a fundamental democratic process that is explicitly citizen-driven and enshrined in the Philippine Constitution.”
He added that the campaign is a mechanism that would allow people to suggest or directly propose amendments to the Constitution.
“It is crucial to understand that this support does not equate to direct participation or control by the House in the people’s initiative process. The role of the House of Representatives, as envisioned by Speaker Romualdez, is to encourage public discourse and awareness regarding constitutional amendments, ensuring that citizens are well-informed and engaged in the democratic processes that shape the nation,” Salceda explained.
“The people’s initiative is a process for the people, by the people. It embodies the sovereign will of the Filipino citizens, offering a direct avenue for them to express their desires and aspirations for constitutional reform. The House of Representatives respects this process and believes in the capacity of the Filipino people to decide the best course for the nation’s constitutional future,” he added.