People’s initiative for Cha-cha ‘frozen,’ says Rep. Joey Salceda

Albay @nd Dist. Rep. Joey Salceda (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — The people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution is as good as frozen as the implementing rules and regulations on such campaigns have been shelved, Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda assured senators on Monday.

Salceda said during a press briefing on Monday that the Senate should no longer feel that a “sword of Damocles” hangs over them as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 10650 that discusses rules on the PI has been put on hold.

“In effect I think we’re shelving PI, that should be cleared to them, because that is the instruction of the President. What do you call that? Cryogenics, we would only bring it back to life when needed,” he said.

“So effectively, the shelving of the 10650 is in effect a shelving of the PI.  So I think that is enough for the Senate to be assured that there is no Sword of Damocles over them, and that’s why although there are disagreements with respect to the urgency or the deadlines, but at least you know we can have now the poison in the atmosphere is no longer there,” he added.

Salceda said that the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is also to let the Senate do its work regarding proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions — which they will follow.

He, however, maintained that the people’s initiative is only “frozen”, but not yet dead.

“Effectively, the instruction of the President is let the Senate do its work on RBH (Resolution of Both Houses No.) 6, and then the House essentially, because that is the implication of the Resolution No. 10650, when the — not that I am giving reasons — but 10650 (is shelved), so by what rules and regulations can we do PI?  There’s no more rules governing PI, the IRR has been shelved,” Salceda said.

“So that’s the implication ng speech of the President and that’s also the implication of Comelec’s shelving of 10650.  Again let me repeat, by what rule will the signatures be gathered when the rules have been set aside?  So effectively there is no PI, for now.  So it’s in a state of cryogenics — not a cemetery ah,” he noted.