BY RAYMOND AFRICA and WENDELL VIGILIA
THE political bickering on the issue of the people’s initiative campaign to amend the Constitution has turned personal, with Sen. Imee Marcos and her cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, now engaging in a word war.
In yesterday’s hearing o the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation which is looking into the alleged buying of signatures for the PI drive, Marcos slammed the Speaker for saying that senators should shut up on the issue.
Without naming names, Marcos said in her opening statement: “Yang sakit na ‘yan ang papatay sa demokrasya at ang sinumang magsabi na walang paki ang Senado sa usapin na ito, isa lang ang masasabi ko: ‘Walang gamot sa kakapalan ng mukha mo!”
Marcos, along with other senators, has pointed to Romualdez as the possible behind the PI signature campaign, an allegation which has been repeatedly denied by the Speaker.
In response to her tirade, Romualdez told his cousin that while he understands her passionate stance on the matter, she does not have to be “rude” in articulating her stand against Cha-cha via a people’s initiative.
“Ang pakiusap ko lang kay Sen. Imee. Hindi po kailangan ng bastusan. Pinakikinggan tayo ng mga kabataan at hindi magandang ehemplo ang ganito (My only plea to Sen. Imee, there’s no need to be rude. The youth is listening to us, and this isn’t a good example),” he said in a statement.
Romualdez said that instead of throwing brickbats, he would like to address the senator’s statement “with the utmost respect and civility that it deserves.”
“Family ties in Philippine politics are deeply rooted and while differences in opinions are inevitable, it is essential to approach these differences with a spirit of constructive dialogue and mutual respect. The phrase ‘Walang gamot sa kakapalan ng mukha mo’ (There is no cure for your shamelessness), as expressed by Sen. Marcos, reflects a passionate stance on issues we both care deeply about. As public servants, our primary focus should always be on the welfare of our constituents and the progress of our nation. It is in this light that I choose to interpret her words as a call to engage more deeply in our shared commitment to serve the Filipino people,” the Speaker said.
“In the spirit of unity and cooperation,” Romualdez said he is open to “engaging in meaningful discussions with Sen. Marcos to address any concerns and work together for the betterment of our country. It is through open communication and collaboration that we can best serve the interests of our people.”
As the country faces many challenges, the Speaker said “it is more crucial than ever that we, as leaders, set an example of respect, understanding, and cooperation.”
“I am committed to maintaining a professional relationship with all my colleagues in the government, including Sen. Marcos, as we work towards our common goal of a prosperous and inclusive Philippines. Tapusin na po natin ang bangayan. Mag-trabaho na lamang po tayo. Para na rin sa kapakanan ng mga kapwa nating Pilipino. (Let’s end the bickering. Let’s just work. It’s for the good of the people),” he said.
Asked later in the day to comment on Romualdez’s statement, Marcos dismissed this and turned the tables on him, saying that it was the House leader who started the squabble.
“Ceasefire daw, wala raw sanang bastusan. Eh siya naman ang nagsabi na walang paki ang Senado. Siya ang nag-umpisa. Nung inugali ko ang ugali niya, umiyak na siya (He is calling for a ceasefire, telling me to stop being rude. But he started it all by saying that Senate has no business [in the PI campaign]. He started it. When I acted the way he does, he started to cry),” she said.
Marcos vowed to gather evidence in the next hearings to prove that Romualdez is indeed the brains behind the PI signature campaign.
