Up to Senate to continue people’s initiative hearing – House member

MANILA, Philippines — Whether or not the Senate should continue its hearings on the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution is their prerogative, Deputy House Speaker Antonio Albano said on Monday.

In a press briefing at the House complex, Albano was asked whether the House thinks Senator Imee Marcos should already stop her committee’s probe on the people’s initiative issue, considering that a measure may be filed to address the spat between the two legislative chambers.

During that time, House leaders have not yet filed Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7 — a new proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions which mirrors the Senate’s version.

“Well Senator Imee, saan ba ho’ng chamber siya, balik ko sa’yo ‘yong question.  Eh bakit naman ho kaming Congressman ang pipigil sa Senate, nakakahiya naman sabi nila mas mataas sila sa amin, so sa amin pong pananaw, whatever the Senate is doing, and the senators, I’m sure they have important reasons why they do it,” Albano said.

(Well Senator Imee, what chamber is she part of, I’ll throw back the question to you.  If it is the Senate, then why would we Congressmen stop the Senate, it’s embarrassing considering that they believe they are above us, so we think, whatever the Senate is doing, and the senators, I’m sure they have important reasons why they do it.)

“That’s her prerogative, and that’s her right as a senator.  And (if) she believes that she is doing her right as a senator, and that’s her call and let the people decide whether that is the right move or not.  Basta ho dito kami sa Congress, ang papansinin namin ‘yong mga trabaho ng mga congressman or congresswoman,” he added.

(We in Congress, what we would focus on is the work of the congressmen or congresswomen.)

 According to Albano, they will only be concerned if the issue stems from hearings being conducted by one of their co-House members.

“I mean, she means well for the country, but I will leave it up to them, it is not for us to tell them to stop, and we don’t do that — and we are asking them also, that if we say something here that is reasonable and is not below the belt, and ‘wag din nila kaming sabihan na ‘stop niyo ‘yong daily press conference niyo’, that’s why I made that statement (they should also refrain from stopping our daily press conference, that’s why I made that statement),” Albano explained.

(I mean, she means well for the country, but I will leave it up to them, it is not for us to tell them to stop, and we don’t do that — and we are asking them also, that if we say something here that is reasonable and is not below the belt, then they should also refrain from stopping our daily press conference, that’s why I made that statement.)