Solon to colleagues: Prayers not for gaining political points

Bienvenido Abante Jr. —PHOTO FROM BENNY ABANTE FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante Jr. on Sunday appealed to fellow legislators to maintain civility and refrain from using prayers as a “means to score political points” amid tension between the two chambers of Congress over the people’s initiative campaign to amend the 1987 Constitution.

 “…the Bible is there to impart God’s word––it is not there to help us score political points,” Abante, a Baptist pastor,  said in a statement.

He likewise urged fellow lawmakers to “remain respectful and professional” even as debates regarding the people’s initiative campaign for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution got heated.

“Let us show that we can disagree without being disagreeable––that we can advance our positions with passion, yet remain personable,” Abante added.

While the lawmaker did not specify who his remarks were directed at, it can be recalled that Senator Imee Marcos led a prayer on Saturday, asking God to protect her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., from “demons” around him.

The senator has been vehemently opposing the people’s initiative campaign and has repeatedly accused House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of initiating the campaign.

Likewise, a prayer rally against the push to amend the 1987 Constitution via people’s initiative is set to take place on Sunday in Davao City.

Some 50,000 people are expected to attend the prayer rally, according to a Davao official.

The Senate and House of Representatives have been clashing over the people’s initiative as a means of amending the Constitution since the signature drive pushed by a private pro-Cha-cha group gained traction in early January.