For Senator Sonny Angara, the current push for a People's Initiative (PI) to amend the 1987 Constitution is a "Trojan horse - one with a nice harmless gift wrapper of ostensibly just voting jointly to revise the Constitution".

In an Instagram post on Saturday, Jan. 27, Angara said that the Senate had decided to make a stand against the PI that's currently being pushed by some politicians.

"Kunwari siya'y biyaya sa mamamayang Pilipino subalit sa loob nito ay may masamang balak na ang benepisyo ay para sa iilan lang. Maging mapagmasid sa mga kilos ng mga nagtutulak nito (It may look as a blessing for Filipinos on the outside, but inside there are detrimental plans that would benefit only a few. Be vigilant against the actions of those pushing for this)," he said.'

Angara also said that "Underneath it lurks the real desired change- the lifting of term limits, the elimination of political institutions and rivals like the Senate and the Office of the vice President, and who knows what else."

"If we value our democracy we must be vigilant and fight this PI. No to one party rule, no to poor democratic safeguards; yes to economic progress and more job opportunities for our people. Why not have specific economic amendments that the people can debate and need not fear? Why ask for a blank check? Ang sagot #alamna," he added.

The House of Representatives and the Senate have differing stands when it comes to amending the 37-year-old Constitution. Reports have been reaching senators that the House is behind the ongoing signature drive for PI.

The Senate has already issued a manifesto strongly expressing their opposition to the ongoing attempts to change the 1987 Constitution through a PI.

In the manifesto, the Senate expressed strong objections to eliminating the upper chamber’s role in introducing amendments or even overhauling the Constitution.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by MANILA BULLETIN

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