Makabayan sees attempt to railroad Cha-cha
THE militant Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the ongoing Charter change (Cha-cha) signature drive in the country amid reports that proponents have been paying P100 to registered voters who would sign the petition for a people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Party-list Reps. France Castro (Alliance of Concerned Teachers); Arlene Brosas (Gabriela) and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan) filed House Resolution No. 1541, urging the Committee on Public Accounts to look into the alleged signature-buying and possible use of public funds, saying they have received numerous reports about the “fake” people’s initiative campaign.
“The ongoing signature-buying and the paid advertisement seem to be part of a coordinated effort to force and railroad the amendment of the 1987 Constitution, particularly Section 7, Article VI, in order to allow foreigners to wholly own lands, businesses and educational institutions in our country,” the resolution said.
The alleged signature buying for the Cha-cha drive was revealed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman who has said that House members from the supermajority coalition have aunched a people’s initiative campaign after municipal mayors in his province were notified of a general meeting last January 5 where they were allegedly given mobilization funds and forms to be signed by at least three percent of registered voters of the legislative district to which their municipalities belong.
Lagman has also said voters who would sign the petition will be given P100 each, “50 percent of which has already been advanced to the municipal mayors and respective coordinators.”
Rep. Zaldy Co (PL, Ako Bicol), chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, last week denied Lagman’s claims and even challenged him to prove his claim that the Commission on Elections’ P14-billion budget would be used to push or finance proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
“This is Comelec’s budget. No other agency, not even Congress, can touch or release even one centavo of it. Is Congressman Lagman saying that Comelec commissioners would use those funds for charter change? If he can’t prove it, then he better shut up,” he said.
Co said that in the regular course of business, Comelec receives annual appropriations for its operations and to supervise the conduct of elections, or special referendums like the recent defeated cityhood proposal of San Jose del Monte.
The resolution also cited Sen. Imee Marcos’ allegation that P20 million was offered per district in several provinces to buy voters’ signatures, saying “such corrupt practice of taking advantage of poverty tramples the genuine essence of people’s initiative.”
Marcos last week filed a resolution asking the Senate to investigate the reports of signature buying by proponents of the people’s initiative.
GIFT-GIVING EVENTS
Castro said the Makabayan bloc has been informed that the signature gathering coincided with the distribution of aid and gifts during the holiday season in the following places: Barangay Silangan, San Mateo, Rizal; Barangay Pinyahan, District 4, Quezon City; Barangay Kalusugan, Quezon City; Caloocan City; Valenzuela; and Gerona, Tarlac.
She said the campaign was also held during gift-giving events during the holidays.
“No matter how hard the proponents deny it, we can’t blame the public for thinking that the people’s money is being used, especially that the Marcos administration has a new push to amend the Constitution. It seems to be a well-coordinated campaign given that there’s a timeline to what they’re doing,” Castro said.
‘EDSA-PWERA’ AD
The resolution also slammed the pro-Cha-cha “Edsa-pwera” paid television advertisement which alleged that the farmers, students, and local businesses are disadvantaged by the 1987 Constitution while proposing that foreigners should be allowed to wholly own land, businesses and even schools in the country.
It pointed out that the People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action (PIRMA), the group that sought to amend the 1987 Constitution through a people’s initiative during the Ramos administration, is also the one behind the pro-Cha-Cha advertisement.
“The public demands to know the source of funds of the paid advertisement and the overall Cha-cha campaign — public coffers or money from foreigners trying to change our Constitution for their interest,” the resolution said.
The Makabayan bloc maintained that the Philippines should not allow foreigners to wholly own lands, businesses and educational institutions “as these are of utmost importance in national patrimony, nation-building and overall country’s development.”
PUBLIC FUNDS
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said the alleged gathering of signatures in exchange of P100 may ultimately cause the invalidation of the ongoing people’s initiative (PI) drive.
In a radio interview, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said it is a distinct possibility that the signatures to be contained in the PI could be invalidated once it is proven that it was gathered via unlawful means.
“Once it is proven that they are gathered through intimidation, terrorism, or after receiving money from public funds, the signatures of these individuals can be invalidated,” he said.
“These evidences that A, B and so on received money in exchange of signing can be used to invalidate the signatures of A, B, up to whoever are involved,” he added.
Garcia said Comelec Resolution No 10650 strictly prohibits the use of public funds in the gathering of signatures.
Section 16 of the resolution states that “all expenses relative to the signature gathering and verification shall be solely borne by the proponent/s, and shall not be funded from public sources.”
Comelec rules provide that the PI must be signed by at least 10 percent of the total number of registered voters nationwide, of which every legislative district is represented by a least three percent of the registered voters there. The signatures will then undergo verification from the local Offices of Election Officers.
Asked about criminal liabilities for those “buying” signatures, Garcia said it is out of the Comelec’s jurisdiction.
He said it is likely that other government agencies could hold accountable those involved in such a campaign for the people’s initiative.
“One example is the use of government funds, which will fall under anti-graft and corrupt practices. A different agency has jurisdiction over that,” he said.
“Another example is the involvement of government employees. Civil service rules strictly prohibit public servants to engage in partisan political activity,” added Garcia.
Lagman has said criminal complaint could be filed against those involved in the alleged buying of voters’ signatures.
‘NO SPECIFICS’
Marcos yesterday said lawmakers pushing for Charter change have not come up with a list of specific economic provisions they want to amend, and this is why she thinks they have other agenda.
In an interview with radio dzBB, Marcos said the restrictive economic provisions have been remedied during the past Congress, with the amendment and passage of three measures — the Retail Trade Act, Foreign Investments Act, and Public Services Act–even as she said there are no more reasons why the Constitution should be amended at the present.
She said restrictive provisions in the Charter can be remedied since there is a provision in the Constitution which states “in accordance with law.” She said is the main reason senators in the last Congress did not agree to introduce amendments to the Constitution.
“TInatanong ko ano yung economic provisions ba talaga para mapag-isipan at ngayon pa lang pagplanuhan. Wala namang binibigay na listahan ng economic provisions. Nagbigay ba sila kalian man na ano ba talaga ang tinutumbok na provisions doon (I asked what economic provisions should be amended. They have not given a list. Did they ever present specific [economic] provisions?),” she said.
“Pero wala namang sinasabi kaya nakakaduda tuloy kaya palagay ko iba yata ang pakay dahil wala namang binabanggit kahit kalian (But they have been silent, which makes me doubt that they have other agenda because they have not mentioned anything about economic provisions),” she added.
She said coming up with measures, instead of amending the Constitution, will save the government around P14 billion.
Asked who might be behind the Cha-cha moves, Marcos said this may point to Speaker Martin Romualdez, based on her sources in the House of Representatives of which she was a member before being elected senator in 2019.
“… Lahat ng staff niya, yung mga pangalan na nagte-text sa mga tao, tapos pati mga numbers eh staff ni Speaker. So, hindi mo masisisi ang tao na siya ang tinutumbok, kahit aminin o hindi. Sabagay, uso naman ngayon, hindi ba kayo sa media alam na ninyo yung confirmation by denial? (All of his [Romualdez’] staff members, those who text the people, their numbers, it appears that they are his staff members. So, we cannot blame the people is they think that the Speaker is behind the campaign whether they admit it or not because there is such a term of confirmation by denial),” she said.
RIFT
In the same interview, Marcos admitted she and Romualdez, her cousin, have not been in speaking terms lately.
She said she does not know why he is angry at her and all she remembers he ignored her at one event. As far as she can recall, Marcos added, Romualdez was angry with the former president and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
She said she told Romualdez the Dutertes are not picking a fight with them, so why start a fight. She said her closeness to the Dutertes could have earned the ire of Romualdez, who is not in good terms with that family.
A word war erupted between Romualdez and the Dutertes when the House of Representatives stripped the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which is also headed by the vice president, of their respective confidential funds during last year’s budget season.
Lawmakers also did not give confidential and intelligence funds to civilian agencies not directly involved in intelligence gathering and law enforcement and national security matters. The Senate adopted the House version of the budget measure.
The elder Duterte then came to his daughter’s rescue, saying the House should be investigated for being the “most rotten institution” in the country.
Marcos, on the other hand, vowed to shield former President Duterte from the criticisms coming from the House.
“I repeat, in 2015, I was the first and only government official who declared support for President Duterte. And even if I’m the only one left, I would remain standing for him,” Marcos said. — With Gerard Naval and Raymond Africa
