Bicol lawmakers rally behind Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate inquiry into the people’s initiative (PI) being pushed by leaders of the House of Representatives is “undue meddling” and a breach of inter-parliamentary courtesy, according to four Bicol representatives in defense of Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In a statement, Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte said Romualdez enjoys his “full backing” amid criticisms over the House leadership’s move – allegedly being done stealthily – to amend the Constitution.

Villafuerte said Camarines Sur 5th District Rep. Miguel Villafuerte, 1st District Rep. Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata and Bicol Saro partylist Rep. Brian Yamsuan share his position.

“The current Senate hearings on the PI process initiated by private groups long yearning for Charter change, in which the House of Representatives and its leaderships have surprisingly and unfortunately become the subject of the inquiry, contravene inter-parliamentary courtesy,” Villafuerte pointed out.

The lawmaker added that the probe reeks of “undue interference by members of one chamber in the official acts of legislators belonging to the other.”

He said “ending the Senate inquiry now would be a sign of good faith in the Congress’ long-sought joint push for RHB 6, putting in place an excellent working environment conducive to the prompt yet deliberate passage by the Senate of its own version of this constitutional reform bill.” RHB 6 refers to Resolution of Both Houses 6, which calls for Charter change with focus on “restrictive” economic provisions.

On Wednesday, several House leaders manifested their support for Romualdez as they underscored the importance of having the restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution removed.

The House had committed to support the RBH 6 version authored by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri just to get the constitutional reform proceedings going.