LEGAL ACTION | Senate authorizes Zubiri to question people’s initiative before court

January 31, 2024 , 11:02 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(January 31, 2024) – Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday was authorized by the upper chamber to question before the court the ongoing push for a people’s initiative seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution due to the alleged irregularities linked to it.

Under Senate Resolution No. 920, the Senate wants to question the “constitutionality, validity, and irregularities relating to the people’s initiative” before the proper tribunal. The resolution, filed by Sen. Joel Villanueva, was subsequently adopted by the plenary.

Zubiri was likewise allowed by his colleagues “to engage the services of counsel/s to prepare the appropriate action and all related pleadings and appear and argue before such tribunal/s for this purpose.”

Last January 17, Zubiri already declared that they are willing to challenge the constitutionality of the current push for a people’s initiative.

“Nakahanda ang Senado na kontrahin ang PI sa Korte Suprema—that is 100% certain,” said Zubiri.

The ongoing signature campaign for a people’s initiative seeks to establish joint voting between the Senate and the House of Representatives in a constituent assembly. But it was criticized for alleged bribery, where some individuals claimed to have received P100 in exchange for their signatures.

The cases of Santiago v Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Lambino v Comelec have been repeatedly cited in the discourse for a people’s initiative.

“In light of these Supreme Court decisions and the ongoing people’s initiative represented by Atty. Anthony A. Abad, et al., there may be a need to file the appropriate action before the proper tribunal,” read Senate Resolution No. 920.

On Tuesday, the committee on electoral reforms led by Sen. Imee Marcos started an inquiry into the issue. It was revealed that the People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action admitted to coordinating with House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

But Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos, said he was a mere facilitator.

“While I support the spirit of civic engagement and participatory governance, my involvement in the people’s initiative has been purely advisory and in no way extends to mobilizing or leading their signature campaign,” said Romualdez in a statement.

In her opening speech for the inquiry, Marcos alluded to an earlier statement by Romualdez about the role of the Senate in a people’s initiative.

“Ang sino man ang nagsabi na walang paki ang Senado sa usaping ito (people’s initiative), isa lang ang masasabi ko: Walang gamot sa kakapalan ng mukha mo,” said Marcos.

Although he was not named by Marcos, Romualdez responded to his cousin’s remarks by saying that they should still be respectful toward each other.

Marcos, the elder sister of President Bongbong Marcos Jr., said Romualdez was the one who started it all.

“Ceasefire raw, wala raw sanang bastusan, eh siya naman ang nagsabi na walang paki ang Senado. Siya ang nag-umpisa. Noong inugali ko ‘yung ugali niya, umiiyak siya,” said the senator.

(PM)

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