While support for a People’s Initiative to adopt major changes in the Constitution is gaining ground among local government leagues, some solons are dismissing this move as another political propaganda.
The option for Charter change (Cha-cha) via People’s Initiative is being espoused by various local government units to express disgust over the Senate’s "selfish motive" in rejecting the bid to amend the 1987 Constitution.
More local government groups yesterday pledged to join the signature campaign set for next month.
The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), representing some 1.7 million members nationwide, hopes to sign up at least 12 percent of all registered voters nationwide, including three percent per district, to conduct the direct mode of amending the Charter.
Mayors Jerry Trenas of Iloilo City, president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) and Ramon Guico Jr. of Binalonan, Pangasinan, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), said their respective organizations are behind the signature drive for people’s initiative.
Also airing support are Philippine Councilors League (PCL) president Carlo Fortuna of Mandaue City, Vice Governors League chairman James Calisin of Albay, Vice Mayors League president Jessie Cruz of Mandaluyong City and Board Members League chairman Allan Zulueta of Davao Oriental.
Officials of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), headed by ULAP president and Bohol Gov. Enrico Aumentado, are meeting this week to formalize the position of the LGU leagues in the conduct of people’s initiative that will complement efforts by Congress to change the Constitution.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone earlier said that should the proposed Cha-cha through a Constituent Assembly fail because of strong opposition, local officials will proceed with a People’s Initiative for a shift from presidential to parliamentary form of government.
SOLONS’ STAND
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel said the plan is not legally feasible and is thus a mere exercise in futility.
He cautioned local chief executives pushing for the plan to restrain themselves from being used by President Arroyo in her plan to stay in power till 2010 – when her term expires – amid calls for her resignation.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said there is nothing in the law which adequately provides legal backing of this plan.
"We don’t have yet an enabling act or law; there might be no legal basis for the proposal," he told reporters in an interview.
Pimentel, also a lawyer, noted that the Philippine Constitution limits the scope of the system of initiative and referendum to simple amendments because it would be impossible to conduct an overall review of the Constitution through the direct action of the entire Filipino electorate. Those advocating for a people’s initiative to settle the issue of whether to revise the constitution or not – including a planned shift to a parliamentary system of government – may have wrongly read the law, the senator argued.
Opposition legislator Sen. Sergio Osmeña, in a text message, said there is nothing in the law which warrants for the conduct of an initiative to revise the 1987 Constitution.
"Good luck to them," Osmeña said of politicians lobbying for a People’s Initiative.
Meanwhile, administration congressmen yesterday proposed the conduct of an immediate study on the merits of the People’s Initiative.
Reps. Exequiel Javier (Lakas, Antique) and Douglas Cagas (NPC, Davao del Sur) said the Committee on Constitutional Revision in the House of Representatives should spearhead the study and immediately submit recommendations on Charter change.
Javier said whether or not legislative action on the People’s Initiative formula will be used to advance Cha-cha now, it would be best for Congress to pass an enabling law for its implementation.
Cagas stressed that Congress must not disregard a proposed people’s initiative now that the Senate’s position against constituent assembly seems to be even harder now.
‘VOICE OF GOD’
Evardone appealed to senators opposing Cha-cha to listen to the voice of the people because theirs is the "voice of God."
Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolf Edward Plaza said that the present global order demands that amendments to the 1987 Constitution be pursued and effected with much less politicking.
"Let us all look at the situation with profound maturity and subordinate personal interests for the greater benefit of the country and people," said Plaza. He added that it is good to consult the people, thereby ventilating the real issues so that the Filipinos can formulate their individual opinions on the matter to either accept or reject the idea.
Guico said it is scary to imagine just how far the Philippines will lag behind her counterparts in Asia if the people continue to resist change.
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