By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian expressed openness on Thursday (11 Jan 2024) to amendments in the 1987 Constitution, particularly focusing on economic provisions.
Gatchalian stated that he has filed a resolution aiming to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
“I’m open to amending economic provisions. We’ve already laid it out in the past, enacting several laws to open up our economy, such as the Retail Trade Liberalization Act and the PSA,” Gatchalian remarked.
However, he emphasized that signatures allegedly obtained in exchange for money should not be considered a people’s initiative. He argued that such practices deviate from the true essence of a people’s initiative.
“What happened now, is the People’s Initiative is no longer People’s Initiative but Peso Initiative, which is contrary to the essence of People’s Initiative. It should involve people putting forward their amendments, and all of us voting to agree on those amendments,” Gatchalian asserted.
“But if you put in money, that means certain people are pushing for their agenda. And that’s not good. It will distort the very essence of amending our Constitution through a people’s initiative,” he added.
(el Amigo/MNM)
