Take responsibility for ‘fake’ people’s initiative, Escudero dares House reps

Sen. Francis Escudero (Photo his office)

MANILA, Philippines — Following demands to disclose the Senate’s position on Charter change (Cha-cha), Senator Francis Chiz Escudero dared their counterparts in the House of Representatives to admit having a hand in the controversial and “fake” people’s initiative (PI).

Escudero’s words were simple in airing his dare: Admit and be accountable.

“Why don’t they come out in the open, be accountable, and admit to the public that they are truly the ones behind this [fake] people’s initiative instead of doing a striptease?” said Escudero, as quoted in a statement released by his office on Thursday.

“At first, they said, “We have nothing to do with that.’ then, next they say they are ‘facilitator but not orchestrator.’ And now, they have the nerve to say, ‘We will stop the PI when they pass the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6’,” he added, partly in Filipino.

According to Escudero, it would “bode well” for House lawmakers to abide by Speaker Martin Romualdez’s very own words, which, according to Escudero, was quoted saying: “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”

Lawmakers from both chambers of Congress have been entangled in a word war. The heated barbs were borne out of the controversial signature campaign for amending the Constitution, which senators believe is being stirred by their counterparts in the lower chamber.

At present, the Senate is leading talks on economic Charter change. This, however, was made according to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive for the upper chamber to review the proposals to amend specific provisions of the Constitution.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri disclosed that Marcos specifically instructed the upper chamber to pass the final version of Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, and the House of Representatives would only adopt the measure’s Senate version.

Zubiri emphasized, however, that talks on the measure would not be rushed.

“[W]e will not be falling into a trap on any deadline because to discuss such an important matter needs time,” Zubiri said then.