The People’s Initiative (PI) remains a valid method of introducing amendments to the 1987 Constitution, but it is unacceptable if it is bastardized.
Senator Robin Padilla stressed this amid the recent People’s Initiative efforts that included a question on whether the Senate and House should vote jointly or separately.
Padilla, in an interview on ANC, said he believes that question on the Senate and House voting jointly is a violation of the Charter – which is why he signed the Senate manifesto scoring the recent PI effort.
“’Yung katanungan sa PI na ‘yan dapat mamatay ‘yan dahil ‘yan labag sa Constitution.”
“’Yung katanungan sa PI na ‘yan dapat mamatay ‘yan dahil ‘yan labag sa Constitution. Pero ang PI, hindi dapat mamatay. Ang mismong PI dapat buhayin natin pero ang tanong, walang question ‘yan, labag ‘yan sa Constitution,” the legislator said.
“Huwag natin banatan ang PI. Ang banatan natin ang paraan kung paano ito ginawa.”
“Kung meron tayong problema ngayon sa sinasagawang PI, huwag natin banatan ang PI. Ang banatan natin ang paraan kung paano ito ginawa. At ang paraan na ginawa nila ang tanong na binigay sa tao at ang pinirmahan ng tao, ‘yan ang kinukwestyon natin,” the lawmaker added.
According to the senator, the issue of voting jointly or separately must be resolved before Congress tackles other aspects of amending the Constitution.
“Kasi hindi matatapos ito, legal question ito. Pati judiciary, maraming comments. Kung ang comments ma-absorb nating lahat ang gulo gulo na. Kaya pwede sana magkaroon tayo ng itong Congress na ito ang 19th Congress matapos ang usaping ito at magkaroon ng finality kung ano ang nasa Art 17 Sec 1 na ‘yan,” he said.
Padilla, who chairs the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, also said a PI effort is illegal if it involves public funds.
“’Pag meron at ginamit ang pera ng bayan, malaking bawal,” he said.
Padilla added that while he had long advocated a unicameral form of government, he cannot agree to the recent PI effort’s attempt to revise the Constitution, as the PI can only be used for amendments.
“Ang katanungan na binigay sa PI na ito, hindi amend; nire-revise ang Constitution dahil tinatanggal ng kapangyarihan ang Senado ang voting power,” he concluded.
