SI dating Justice Vicente Veloso, isang dating kongresista at chairperson ng House Committee on Constitutional Reform ang isa sa mga petitioner sa isinusulong na People’s Initiative na naglalayong amyendahan ang 1987 Constitution.

“Drawing from my tenure as the Chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Reform, I understand the intricacies and the profound responsibility involved in amending our Constitution,” ani Veloso.

“This background fortifies my conviction that the People’s Initiative is a legitimate, democratic method to propose necessary reforms,” dagdag pa nito.

Ang People’s Initiative ay isa sa tatlong paraan kung papaano maaaring amyendahan ang 1987 Constitution. Sa prosesong ito ay kakalapin ang lagda ng hindi bababa sa 12 porsyento ng mga kabuuang bilang ng mga rehistradong botante at dapat ay tatlong porsyento ng bawat legislative district.

“Having been intimately involved in discussions and deliberations on constitutional changes, I recognize the potential of the People’s Initiative to reflect the true will of the Filipino people,” sabi ni Veloso.

Sinabi ni Veloso na kasama sa kanyang pagsusulong ng People’s Initiative ay ang pagiging komplikado ng Constituent Assembly mode, partikular kung papaano boboto ang mga senador at kongresista sa pag-apruba sa magiging pagbabago.

“Constitutional reform discussions, especially the debates over joint voting versus separate voting in a Constituent Assembly, often stalled meaningful reforms of our Constitution” paliwanag ni Veloso.

“These procedural impasses highlight the need for alternative methods like the People’s Initiative, which circumvents such gridlocks and invokes the power directly reserved for the Filipino people: by Section 2, Article XVII of the 1987 Constitution,” dagdag pa nito.

Ikinalungkot ni Velasco na kung 14 na taon lamang ang itinagal bago napalitan ang 1973 Constitution, ang 1987 Constitution ay hindi pa nababago matapos ang 37 taon upang maging angkop sa panahon.

“The Philippines is a democratic and republican state. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them,” wika pa ni Veloso.

Iginiit ng dating mambabatas ang kahalagahan na maging hayag, inklusibo at sumusunod sa legal na proseso ang proseso ng pag-amyenda sa Saligang Batas.

“We must ensure that every step taken respects the rule of law and the democratic principles that underpin our society,” saad nito.

Ipinaliwanag ni Veloso na ang kanyang tungkulin bilang petitioner sa people’s initiative ay nagpapakita umano ng kanyang dedikasyon sa constitutional integrity at democratic governance.