SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday assured Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III that the People’s initiative (PI) has zero participation from congressmen.
As the name implies, Speaker Romualdez, who leads the 300-plus strong House of Representatives, says the PI is a “purely civilian matter”.
“The People’s Initiative is not initiated out of the Congress eh. As you know there are three modes. ‘Di ba, may Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass), where the House and the Senate convene as one; electing delegates, ‘di ba, to a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con). Pero wala namang pakialam ‘yung senador o ‘yung miyembro ng Congress sa People’s Initiative,” Speaker Romualdez said in a press briefing Friday, when asked to react to Pimentel’s recent statements assailing the House in connection with PI.
“We haven’t passed any resolution, we don’t have to pass any bill, we don’t have to set anything for hearings. There are no formal functions or participation of congressmen or senators. ‘Yan ay PI. The PI contemplates the power of the people. Di ba? So that’s it,” he said.
“Walang partisipasyon ang mga congressmen d’yan, so I dont know what they’re making reference to,” added Speaker Romualdez.
According to the Leyte 1st district congressman, Pimentel and his fellow senators who have been apprehensive over PI and its accompanying signature campaign could be simply “seeing ghosts”.
Romualdez, who is a lawyer like Pimentel, added that the senators may question the PI movement at the proper venue.
“They’re seeing ghosts all over the place. Let the people decide. We expect the process of the PI–all the senators’ problems with the PI, the conduct of which they can take it up with the Comelec or raise whatever allegations that I see are quite baseless in the proper courts.”
At the same time, Romualdez sees nothing wrong with House members and senators for that matter who want to help explain the ins and outs of PI to their constituents, should they have queries about it.
“Pero at the end of the day, senators and congressmen are people no? So as long as you are not using government funds, you are not using your offices in pursuit of these purely civilian activities, you’re in good stead,” Speaker Romualdez said.
