Solon defends push for Cha-Cha via people’s initiative

The ‘People Initiative’ signature sheets submitted in January at the Commission on Elections office in Arroceros, Manila before the suspension of all the proceedings related to the people’s initiative. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

TACLOBAN CITY — A lawmaker has defended the Lower House’s move to gather signatures to amend the 1987 Constitution via a people’s initiative (PI).

Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog party-list group said the PI is a constitutionally created scheme in amending the Charter and not just a whim of House of Representatives members.

Acidre, in a statement on Saturday, Feb. 17, said congressmen were surprised at how some groups and senators attacked and “demonized” the scheme.

“People’s Initiative is a perfectly legitimate constitutionally provided in amending the Constitution which is unfortunate as some groups are trying to demonize the process,” said Acidre, whose party-list group is headed by Rep. Yedda Romualdez, the wife of Leyte congressman and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

READ: Marcos seeks inquiry on effectiveness of People’s Initiative

The House Speaker was suspected to be the prime mover of the PI, one of the three modes in amending the Constitution.

The other modes include the Constituent Assembly and Constitutional Convention, both of which were also pushed by the Lower House but were earlier rejected by the Senate.

Acidre also addressed concerns that money was used by congressmen in gathering signatures for a PI.

“In any undertaking, there is a presumption of regularity (though) I cannot say 100 percent that the signatures were genuine,” he said.

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He said these gathered signatures could have been attested through a verification process by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“But granting that 10 people were bought, will this invalidate the whole process? That would be unfair,” Acidre said.

He said lawmakers would want to stick in amending only the economic provisions of the Constitution.

“We will only focus on amending the economic provisions and the President has also made the same assurance,” Acidre said.

READ: EXPLAINER: The process of Cha-cha and why we should monitor it

“There are many areas for political amendments like I myself would like to see the expansion of the Senate by electing them by region. But this can be taken in another time because what is the greater concern now is economic amendment,” he added.

Acidre said there are “trust issues” about Charter Change because it has never been done in the country.