A group of mayors on Tuesday appealed to the House and Senate to end the bickering over charter change.
“The Mayors for Good Governance (MGG) appeal for an end to the conflict over charter change through a people’s initiative which has forcibly sidelined the people’s problems,” the local chief executives said in a statement in Pilipino.
“To our lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives, with the severe poverty in our country today, it is best to work together to solve this,” said the group led by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
Founded in August 2023, the MGG has about 100 member-mayors, including Quezon City’s Joy Belmonte, Pasig City’s Vico Sotto, Marikina’s Marcy Teodoro, Rommel Arnado of Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte, Sitti Hataman of Isabela in Basilan, and Felipe Remollo of Dumaguete.
The appeal was made as the row between Senator Joel Villanueva and House leader Zaldy Co of Bicol turned into a melee as other lawmakers joined the fray.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong condemned Villanueva’s “careless comments” maligning the party-list system in Congress.
Adiong said Villanueva had been a party-list representative and among those alleged to have become involved in the pork barrel scam, but had defended himself by stating that this signature had been forged.
“If I were in his (Villanueva’s) shoes then,” Adiong pointed out, “if I were really furious, I would probably file a case against those persons who forged my signature.”
Senator Pia Cayetano, on the other hand, explained that Villanueva has been outspoken against the People’s Initiative, stating that the PI’s only goal, based on evidence and documents gathered, is to “muzzle the Senate.”
She said those who felt “alluded to should explain themselves in a diplomatic way and should not resort to peddling lies to besmirch the “good name” of God-fearing Villanueva.”
Villanueva had shot back at Co who had criticized him for belittling congressmen and dredging up his links with Janet Napoles who was convicted in connection with the pork barrel scam.
He accused Co as one of the biggest contractors in the government and alleged involvement in the P11.5- billion Pharmally deal and multi-billion Department of Education laptop deal.
Vilanueva also denied he belittled the partylist system since he started as a representative of CIBAC. His father, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, is also a partylist congressman.
Adiong of Lanao del Sur on Monday slammed Villanueva for the latter’s “derogatory” statements undermining the status and significance of party-list representatives in comparison to senators.
Describing the senator’s comments as not only “careless” but fundamentally “disrespectful” to the constitutional design of the Philippines’ legislative branch, Adiong accused Villanueva, who used to be a nominee of party-list group Cibac, of a grave misrepresentation that threatens the integrity of Congress.
“I cannot accept that a statesman such as himself would hold such a myopic and tyrannical view of the legislative branch. We are all equal public servants and only the people are superior to us. House representatives and senators are all members of the 19th Congress,” Adiong said.
This division, Adiong underscored, is essential for a balanced and effective legislative process, with both houses serving as vital checks and balances to each other.
“Parliamentary courtesy is the cornerstone of our proceedings. It is through this courtesy that we engage in respectful debates, recognizing the value each member brings to the table,” the lawmaker stressed.