Nagpaliwanag si House Speaker Martin Romualdez hinggil sa pagkakadawit sa kaniya sa People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action (PIRMA) kaugnay ng Charter Change (Cha-Cha).
Matatandaang sa isinagawang pagdinig sa Senado hinggil sa signature campaign para sa People’s Initiative (PI) nitong Martes, Enero 30, inamin ni PIRMA lead convenor Noel Oñate na nakipag-coordinate siya kay Romualdez upang makakuha umano ng 3% ng mga lagda kada congressional district para sa PI.
MAKI-BALITA: Romualdez nakipagtulungan sa PI campaign, pag-amin ng PIRMA lead convenor
Kaugnay nito, naglabas naman ng pahayag ang House speaker upang klaruhin ang kaniyang posisyon sa PIRMA.
Hindi paggamit ng ‘mother tongue’ sa pagtuturo sa Kinder – Grade 3, naisabatas na!
“I acknowledge that representatives from the People’s Initiative, including Mr. Noel Oñate, have approached me for a meeting. This encounter, held at my townhouse, was in the spirit of open dialogue and understanding of civic actions spearheaded by our citizens,” ani Romualdez.
“As Speaker of the House, I am committed to upholding the principles of democracy and facilitating discussions on matters of national interest. The meeting with the People’s Initiative representative wa an exercise on this commitment. My role, as misinterpreted by some, is not as an orchestrator but as a facilitator for healthy democratic processes,” dagdag niya.
Iginiit din ng House leader na ang kaniyang papel sa PI ay “purely advisory” lamang at hindi raw sumasaklaw sa signature campaign.
“While I support the spirit of civic engagement and participatory governance, my involvement in the Pople’s Initiative has been purely advisory and in no way extends to mobilizing or leading their signature campaign. The Initiative and its operations are entirely led and manage by the group themselves,” saad ni Romualdez.
“I firmly deny any allegations of involvement in unlawful activities such as vote-buying related to this or any other initiative. Such practices are against my principles and the ethical standards of our government,” dagdag pa niya.
Samantala, sinabi rin ni Romualdez na bagama’t nirerespeto niya ang “autonomy” ng PI, ang kaniyang trabaho raw bilang Speaker ng Kamara ay siguruhing ang lahat ng proseso ay isinagawa nang may integridad, katapatan, at naaayon sa batas.
“I urge the public and media to approach this topic with an understanding of the distant roles in our democratic framework and to avoid conflating support for civic discourse with direct involvement in specific initiatives,” saad pa ni Romualdez.
Kamakailan lamang, ilang mga senador, kabilang na sina Senador Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Senador Chiz Escudero at Senador Imee Marcos, ang naniniwalang si Romualdez ang nasa likod ng PI campaign.
MAKI-BALITA: Bato, iginiit na si Romualdez nasa likod ng PI campaign; House speaker, umalma!
MAKI-BALITA: ‘Huli sa bibig?’ Escudero, may ‘resibo’ na si Romualdez nasa likod ng PI
MAKI-BALITA: Imee, ipinagdiinang si Romualdez umano ang nasa likod ng PI campaign
Iginiit naman ng House leader na hindi raw totoo ang naturang mga akusasyon.
MAKI-BALITA: Romualdez sa akusasyon ni Imee: ‘Nagma-marites siguro siya’
