Zubiri on people’s initiative: Move on, start helping the people

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri  (Photo screengrabbed from YouTube account of Senate)

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday said it’s now time to move forward from the controversial signature campaign for Charter change and start addressing key issues affecting Filipinos.

Zubiri made his remark in an ambush interview amid the supposed rift between the Marcoses and Dutertes.  

“Let’s work together and move forward from this people’s initiative issue and let’s start helping where the people [need] the most,” said Zubiri.

“I think all these fighting between the different groups is not going to be good for our economy, it’s not going to be good for our country, it’s not going to be good for our children and our children’s children,” he emphasized.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, following calls to stop the Senate’s probe into the controversial signature campaign, pointed out that the problem is that the drive for people’s initiative continued despite a clear agreement on economic Charter change between both chambers of Congress.

“The agreement during the meeting of Senate President Zubiri and [House] Speaker Martin Romualdez in the presence of President Bongbong Marcos to avert a constitutional crisis, [is for the] the Senate to file Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, the PI signature be stopped, the HOR adopts the RBH6, then move forward,” said Ejercito, adding that the agreement was not honored, which then led to “political brouhaha.”

“Hell broke loose because of this fake PI drive.  They should stop this PI, then we can already tackle issues that are more important,” he added.

Ejercito stressed that senators cannot let their guard down, unless “there is a categorical statement” that the people’s initiative will be discontinued.

President Marcos himself said the people’s initiative was too divisive. He also admitted that the signature drive has been politicized.