Hontiveros hits people’s initiative route for Cha-cha

Sen. Risa Hontiveros  (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — The supposed push for the people’s initiative method for Charter Change (Cha-cha) only seeks to undermine and weaken the Senate’s voice in amending the 1987 Constitution, said opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday.

In a statement, Hontiveros said the “well-funded” campaign is all about “greed” and not about the people.

“[T]he reported people’s initiative is not about any economic or political reforms in the Constitution. There’s no mention of that in the forms allegedly spreading. The campaign only wants both houses of Congress to vote jointly during a Constituent Assembly, thus weakening the Senate’s voice and participation in the process of Cha-cha,” said Hontiveros, partly in Filipino.

She stressed that she will keep an eye on this scheme and pointed out that instead of “wasting time”  on these “fake people’s initiatives,” it would be better to prioritize what really benefits Filipinos.

Among these include lowering the price of goods, raising the wages of the workers, addressing the worsening corruption and keeping an eye on China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

“The country has so many problems that cannot be answered by that people’s initiative,” she emphasized.

Hontiveros’ statement was made amid a supposed signature campaign for Cha-cha.

Hours after Hontiveros issued her statement, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced that with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s go signal, the upper chamber will review certain provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Zubiri said this will be a Senate priority, repeatedly clarifying that their amendments will only focus on economic provisions of the country’s highest law, particularly public services, education, and advertising.