A LEADER of the House of Representatives on Saturday agreed with Vice President Sara Duterte that any form of vote buying is abhorrent in a democracy but reiterated that those who were signing in the People's Initiative campaign to amend the 1987 Constitution were not paid.

In her comments Friday, Duterte said that the signature campaign pushing for charter change is being used to abuse Filipinos living in poverty and has already disrespected their right to decide for themselves without fear or monetary influence.

She said that the push for a people's initiative, despite the massive poverty and the uncertainty of peace and order, is a "hurtful sign" of the failure to see the true problems of Filipinos and resolve these issues.

But in a radio interview, House Deputy Majority Leader for Communications Rep. Erwin Tulfo (ACT-CIS Party-list) said that there were no instructions from the House leadership to pay people who will sign the proposal to amend a provision in the Constitution that would allow joint voting of the Senate and House instead of convening a constituent assembly.

"If they are hearing issues on bribery from their own congressmen, mayor or village chiefs, it could be on their own initiative, but I am telling you now, there are no instructions from up high to bribe [anyone], as far as I know," Tulfo said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Tulfo echoed the vice president in that any form of bribery in exchange for votes or for signatures is not ideal.

"Never was it mentioned that we should force anybody, by hook or by crook, or bribe anyone or give them a budget. [What] we just discussed [was] what if we push the people's initiative and let the Senate and the House vote as one — that was the only discussion," Tulfo said.

He also reiterated that the move to change certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution has been floated since the post-EDSA Revolution, but the issue has not moved because of massive opposition, especially since political amendments may be introduced.

He also said that Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had threatened to resign if the political provisions of the current Constitution would be touched.

Tulfo assured the public that amid the moves to change the 1987 Constitution, they will continue their work at the House once session resumes after their holiday break on January 22, including discussions on some priority bills that were highlighted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

"That was the instruction over the break. There are many priority bills of the President that have to be passed; this is the one we are rushing. We are not reneging on our work, particularly on the passage of key laws," Tulfo said.

Read The Rest at :