Officers and members of the House of Representatives will not attend the Senate hearing on the ongoing people’s initiative to propose a single amendment to the Constitution.
Thus said House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe in response to the public invitation extended by Senator Imee Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on electoral reforms. “While we appreciate Senator Marcos’ open invitation to the Senate probe, it seems we in the House have our hands full crafting legislation aimed at enhancing the lives of our fellow Filipinos. It’s a demanding task, but someone’s got to do it,” Dalipe said in a statement.
“Perhaps while we focus on building bridges, others seem more inclined to hunt for witches. But rest assured, should our legislative schedule allow, we’d be more than willing to engage in fruitful discussions, preferably ones that construct, not deconstruct, our collective efforts for national progress,” he added.
Congressmen have distanced themselves from the people’s initiative, saying they have nothing to do with it.
They conceded though that it is the people’s ultimate right enshrined in the Constitution to directly propose changes in the Charter. The Senate is set to begin on Wednesday its probe into alleged “signature buying” for a people’s initiative to amend the Constitution.
Marcos issued an open invitation to the public hearing of the Senate committee on electoral reforms on Tuesday on her resolution to look into the signature drive, allegedly initiated by the leadership of the House of Representatives.
