LEADERS of the House of Representatives on Thursday reassured the public and their colleagues that the chamber’s leadership would not allow the introduction of political amendments in Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 when it is taken up in plenary session starting on Monday.
They made the reassurance in the wake of apprehensions aired by some members of the Makabayan bloc that the House might entertain political amendments when it tackles the resolution, which proposes economic constitutional changes only.
Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo First District Rep. Janette Garin, who was also a deputy majority leader of the Committee of the Whole House, said the adoption of proposals that are political in nature “is very impossible.”
“I believe, talking to most members of the House, almost all are supportive of the (resolution) ay limited duon sa tatlong amendments (public utilities, basic education and advertising),” she told a news briefing.
“It will be political suicide. Ilang beses kami humaharap sa inyo at sinasabi namin, ang layunin ng RBH 7 or economic cha-cha ay bigyang daan ang mga investors pumasok, para sa mas maginhawang buhay, mas maraming trabaho, mas malaking sahod, and at the same time, mas magiging affordable ang mga utilities sa atin dahil may kompetisyon,” she said.
“Pag walang monopoliya, talaga namang mas beneficial sa taong bayan. So hindi ko talaga nakikita ang linya dito papunta sa alegasyon ng political amendments. Parehong-pareho lang ‘yan doon sa paulit-ulit ko na tinatanong, paano po ba naging national security concern ang economic cha-cha? Kasi hindi ko rin makita ang tuhog,” she said.
Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo echoed the appeal of Garin for the Makabayan bloc to trust their colleagues in the majority.
“Alam niyo, it’s very very simple. Ilan beses na pong tumayo ang mga kongresista at nagsabi na there will be no political agenda sa pag-a-approve po ng RBH 7. Alam niyo, number one is trust issues. It is political suicide if we continue na ipaglaban iyong pulitikal na aspeto ng Charter Change, unang-una po yan,” he said.
He said supporters of RBH 7 would oppose any attempt on the part of any member to add political amendments to the resolution.
“Kami po na nandito ang mag-o-oppose kung sakali may isa mang Kongresista o isang tao na magpasok ng ‘ika nga political agenda dito sa ating Charter Change. Kami po mismo ang tatayo at tututol sa ano mang bagay na iyan,” he said.
“Kaya, we give the assurance not only to our counterparts, the Senate but to the people na kakampi niyo po ang Kongreso. Ang aming ginagawa po dito is very clear, the marching orders is to improve the economic provisions,” he added.
Another House member, Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, invited his skeptical Makabayan colleagues to review what has transpired during the two-week marathon hearings on RBH 7 of the Committee of the Whole House, in which they actively participated.
“Isn’t it already proof that what we have seen for several weeks since the start of the discussion of RBH 7, isn’t it enough that it is proof that we are only limited our discussion to economic provisions? Nakita po nating iyong flow of the committee hearing of the Committee of the Whole,” he said.
He said the committee invited resource persons only on public utilities, education and advertising — the areas covered by the proposed amendments.
“There was no invitation sent to any organization or individual or maybe expert on political issues. So, I think we have to work on the basis of trust…we cannot achieve anything if every step of the way, we always have doubts on our colleagues,” he said.
He added that lawmakers should also trust President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. “because the President is very clear that what he wants is just to revisit the economic provisions and no other and RBH 7 is very very clear and concise, we would only debate on, discuss on economic provisions.”
“So, I think what we have witnessed in the previous days and weeks is already enough evidence to dispel in any rumors, apprehension or any tsismis na sinasabing baka ma-expand ang coverage ng discussion in the coming days,” he stressed.
Garin said the Makabayan bloc’s apprehensions are just that — fears.
“Yung mga haka-haka o takot na pinag-uusapan, that’s actually the problem, if you are legislating with many fears behind your mind. Dapat kasi bilang mga kongresista, ang tinitingnan natin, ano ba ang mga batas na kailangan ng taongbayan? Where can we participate? That statement possibly points to a distrust within the system and that is something na pinapakita nga natin na tinatanggal. Kaya matutugunan lang itong distrust na ito kapag talagang i-tackle (ang RBH 7),” she added.
Rillo also tried to allay the fears of Makabayan bloc lawmakers that the proposed economic amendments might lead to higher inflation.
“Dito po sa economic provisions na ginawa ng Kongreso is to invite more investors to come into our country. Maraming dayuhan ang mangangapital at maghahanap-buhay, magbubukas ng negosyo sa ating bansa. If we do that, we increase jobs, magkakaroon tayo ng mas maraming pera, magkakaroon tayo ng mas maraming trabaho at pag nagkaroon ng maraming trabaho, nagkaroon ng maraming pera, tumataas din iyong tax na ating koleksiyon sa ating gobyerno,” he said.
“By doing that, we give more food on the table for our families. Paano po tayo magkakaroon ng inflation kung nagpapasok nga tayo ng hanap-buhay?” Rillo asked.
“We are working for the people. Ang aming gusto lamang dito ay hindi makinabang ang malalaking monopolyong negosyo na sila lang iyon. Dapat dito may kompetisyon tayo. Dapat dito lahat makapaghanap-buhay, lahat makinabang sa mga dapat pakinabangan sa ating gobyerno, at higit sa lahat ang taongbayan,” he said.
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