Romualdez writes Zubiri, reiterates full support for Senate Cha-cha resolution

MANILA, Philippines: Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez wrote to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, reiterating full support for the Resolution of Both Houses 6 (RBH 6), which was filed at the Senate to amend some economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

The letter was dated Jan. 25, 2024.

Romualdez, in a letter dated Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, began with an excerpt from the opening statement he delivered on Monday at the House of Representatives plenary wherein he welcomed the filing of the resolution.

“Given the above statements and in conjunction with the commitment of the Senate when we met prior to the vin d’ honneur last January 11, 2024, this Representation as the head of the House of the People, together with the Deputy Speakers, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader reiterates our full support with the Senate in their filing and eventual passage of Resolution of Both Houses No. 6… “, he said.

“We await the approval of the Senate of RBH No. 6, and we commit to adopt this measure pertaining to the amendments of the economic provisions of the Constitution,” he said.

“We stand at a historic juncture, where cooperation and collective resolve are paramount”, Romualdez said.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva had said many senators were no longer interested in pushing for the joint resolution.

Also, senators had said in a manifesto that they respect the people as their sovereign while warning against any “underhanded” attempt to amend the 1987 Constitution “by exploiting our democratic process under the guise of a people’s initiative.”

They said they rejected “this brazen attempt to violate the Constitution.”

There are three ways to amend the 1987 Constitution: through a constituent assembly, a constitutional convention, or people’s initiative.

Zubiri, along with Senators Loren Legarda and Juan Edgardo “Sonny”, filed RBH 6.

The resolution proposed amendments to Articles XII (Section 11), XIV (paragraph 2, Section 4), and XVI (paragraph 2, Section 11) of the 1987 Constitution through a separate House and Senate vote of 3/4 of each of their members.

Romualdez on Wednesday expressed respect for senators’ right to freely express themselves, following their manifesto against the people’s initiative.

He said “it is up to them what [they want] to say.”

“I respect always the opinion of others. I may not necessarily agree… pero (but) I respect” their right, he said.

Romualdez also said he is “ready to work with” the Senate “hand-in-hand”.

“As I said, we are ready to embrace the Resolution of Both Houses…”, he said.

On Tuesday, Romualdez said in a statement that the House does not favor direct involvement by lawmakers in getting signatures for Charter change (Cha-cha).

“In response to the discourse surrounding the People’s Initiative, I wish to restate the House of Representatives’ commitment to this essential democratic process. The People’s Initiative stands as a direct expression of the people’s will, providing a means for citizens to propose constitutional amendments. The House does not endorse or sanction direct participation by its members in signature gathering, ensuring the process’s integrity and independence remains intact,” he said.

“While the House respects and supports the People’s Initiative as an independent, citizen-driven process, our role is to facilitate and encourage democratic participation without direct involvement in signature collection,” he said.

“We are committed to ensuring that proposals are processed in accordance with legal and constitutional guidelines, maintaining the integrity of our Constitution in subsequent legislative actions,” he said.

Romualdez said the House is “committed to providing a transparent and accountable framework to support the People’s Initiative, ensuring that it remains a true representation of the people’s collective will.”

“We are here to support and respect the outcomes of this process, affirming the People’s Initiative as the purest form of democracy”, he said.

In the same statement on Tuesday, Romualdez said “the entry of foreign capital and direct investments are crucial for” the Philippine economy.

“It necessitates a reexamination of the Constitution, particularly its economic provisions, to remove growth barriers”, he said.

In a chance media interview at the House on Monday, Romualdez said he did not order signatures for Cha-cha through people’s initiative.

Earlier on Monday, Sen. Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa said in a press conference that a congressman, whom he did not name, told him Romualdez had a hand in the people’s initiative.

“That’s Senator Bato talking. I don’t know what he’s talking about. He has not mentioned any congressman…”, Romualdez said.

Attached is a copy of Romauldez’s letter:

romualdez writes zubiri, reiterates full support for senate cha-cha resolution

Romualdez writes Zubiri, reiterates full support for Senate Cha-cha resolution

romualdez writes zubiri, reiterates full support for senate cha-cha resolution

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