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Ni Romeo Allan Butuyan II
TAHASANG itinuring ni Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers na wala umanong matibay na basehan, malaking panlilinlang at nagnanais lamang na sirain ang integridad ng Kamara gayundin ang grupo na nagsusulong ng People’s Initiative (PI) ang manifesto na inilabas ng Senado patungkol sa layuning maamyendahan ang 1989 Constitution.
Kasabay nito, binigyan-diin ng naturang ranking House official na dapat hayaan ng Senado na ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino ang magpasya sa isinusulong na Charter Change o Cha-cha.
“Some Senators’ allegations that the goal of PI is to make it easier to revise the Constitution by eliminating the Senate from the equation is an unfounded and deceptive attribution to the House,” pahayag pa ni Barbers, chairman ng House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.
“The manifesto is apparently portraying a demonized image on the supporters of the PI,” dugtong pa niya. Ayon kay Barbers, bukod sa hindi makatwiran, ginugulo lamang na nasabing manifesto ang isyu ng Cha-cha partikular sa mainit na pinagtatalunan o interpretasyon sa gagawing pagboto ng lahat ng miyembro ng Kongreso sa ipinapanukalang probisyon ng Konstitusyon na dapat baguhin.
“The plain language of the Constitution needs no interpretation, but some quarters tried to create a confusion that the term “all” members of Congress should be understood to mean separate votes of the Senate and of the House of Representatives,” sabi pa ng Surigao del Norte lawmaker.
“It is thus a matter of differing opinion on the matter which has been lingering for several decades and for the past several administrations. The Senate should also respect with dignity the proponents of opposite interpretation, and not demonizing them to a level that is tantamount to hindering democratic freedom of expression,” giit ni Barbers.
Ani Barbers, malinaw din naman sa Saligang Batas na pinapahintulutan ang PI bilang isa sa proseso para sa Cha-cha kaya naman kinikilala niya ang paninindigan ng mga nasa likod para resolbahin ang pinagtatalunang gagawing pagboto ng mga mambabatas sa pagbabago ng 1987 Constitution.
“The proponents of PI took the courage to break the impasse not for self-interest but to pursue the interest of the Filipino people. They hope that the Senate will not be a stumbling block to this effect. After all, whatever would be the outcome of the People’s Initiative, it is the voice of the Filipino people who will finally decide in the plebiscite,” paglalahad pa ng kongresista.
“If the senators would not want to adopt any mode to change the Charter, we have no recourse but to exercise our right as Filipino citizens and support our people’s clamor to amend the Constitution. And so, I urge Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to grant us the option to support the People’s Initiative,” mariing sabi ni Barbers.
