By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Joel Villanueva has urged the public to report alleged bribery in exchange for the signature for Charter change.
“Kung meron pong nagoyo, nabudol, gustong magreklamo at bawiin ang kanilang pirma, huwag po kayong matakot magsumbong. Magpadala o magpost ng video, picture o screenshot ng mga text ng panunuhol,” Villanueva said.

“Ipagbigay alam niyo rin po sa amin ang inyong pangalan, tirahan at contact details para matulungan po namin kayo na maprotektahan at maipagtanggol ang inyong karapatan,” the senator added.

Villanueva reiterated that the signature of the people in for people’s initiative should not be bought.

“Kaya nakakabahala po ang ginagawang Peoples Initiative. Marami na po tayong narinig, nakita at nasaksihan…Hindi po dapat binibili, sinusuhulan, at sinasamantala ang ating mga kababayan. Importante po na ang tao ay mulat at nabibigyan ng tamang impormasyon. Hindi po pwede na bibigyan kayo ng ayuda o salapi para lamang pumirma,” he said.

Earlier, retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said that Cha-cha through people’s initiative could lead to a constitutional crisis.

“Because if you remove the Senate, you disregard the checks and balances in the present Constitution, and that’s a crisis, a constitutional crisis. Why did you set aside the Senate? You disregarded it when there is supposed to be a check and balance,” Carpio said.

(el Amigo/MNM)