MANILA, Philippines — An expression of regret was all Atty. Anthony Abad could utter when he was asked on Tuesday what his message was to Filipinos who were promised financial aid in exchange for their signature used in the people’s initiative for Charter change (Cha-cha).
Abad, whose name was solely written in the forms for the signature campaign for Cha-cha, was grilled during the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation’s hearing.
“Itong mga tao ngayon hinahanap na [kung] saan nila ike-claim ang card na pina-promise sa kanila. Sasabihin nila, o itong si Attorney Abad ang pangalan na nandito. Hanapin natin siya, singilin natin. Anong sasabihin mo doon sa mga tao?” Senator Ronald dela Rosa asked.
(People are asking where they can claim what was promised to them. They will say, look — Attorney Abad’s name is here. Let’s find him and ask him to pay us. What will you say to them?)
To this, Abad answered: “Sorry.”
“Thank you at magso-sorry ka (Thank you for saying sorry),” dela Rosa quipped.
Later in the hearing, Abad said he questioned why his name was the only one written on the forms. According to him, he would have preferred that all names of the proponents were there, but he likewise justified that it was printed without their names “to shorten it.”
Among other proponents, he named former Congressman Alfredo Garbin Jr. and People’s Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action lead convenor Noel Oñate.
He then explained that the names of the proponents were alphabetized. This being the case, his name was listed first and only because it contains triple As.
“I did not join this to engage in fraud or any improper behavior,” Abad later emphasized.
According to Abad, he was not really a part of Pirma, explaining that his role is to be the organization’s advisor on Constitutional reform if the petition ever prospers.
READ: Pirma is back: Charter change drive on air, on ground