By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Saying he’s only waiting for the right time to file a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the legality of the ongoing people’s initiative (PI) drive, former Speaker and Davao del Norte’s 1st district Representative Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez on Thursday (25 Jan 2024) tagged Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez as the one behind the movement to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio argued that the PI, one of three ways to revise the constitution, can only introduce amendments — not revisions — to the charter.
Romualdez on Monday (January 22) denied issuing a directive to push for Charter change Cha-Cha) via PI even as Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said barangay officials are allowed to participate in the signature campaign that seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution.
“Wala namang kriminal na umaamin eh. Di-deny yan hangga’t pwedeng i-deny. Siyempre ako naman bilang isang abogado nangangalap din ng mga ebidensya habang ginagawa nila yung mga pagpapapirma, dino-document ko rin para pagdating ng oras,” Alvarez mantained.
On Wednesday (January 24), Albay Rep. Joey Salceda claimed that enough signatures have been obtained for the PI.
But Alvarez alleged that most voters signed the people’s initiative forms because “money was involved.”
“Dahil may pinamimigay na pera, pinakamaliit diyan P5,000 kasi yun naman talaga yung AICS… Eh siyempre yung tao willing pumirma dahil gutom yung tao, ang hirap ng buhay,” Alvarez said.
The former Speaker said he is just waiting for the right time to file a case before the SC.
“Ita-timing natin kung kailan tama yung pag-file. Hindi naman pwedeng maagang-maaga kasi baka mamaya sabihin naman ng Supreme Court, pwede nilang i-dismiss yun dahil sabihin nilang not ripe for adjudication,” he explained.
(el Amigo/MNM)
