TINIYAK ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez kay Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III na walang kinalaman ang mga kongresista sa isinusulong na People’s initiative (PI).

Gaya ng tawag dito, sinabi ni Speaker Romualdez na ang PI ay isang “purely civilian matter”.

“The People’s Initiative is not Initiated out of the Congress eh. As you know there are three modes. ‘Di ba, may Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass), where the House and the Senate convene as one; electing delegates, ‘di ba, to a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con). Pero wala namang pakialam ‘yung senador o ‘yung miyembro ng Congress sa People’s Initiative,” ani Speaker Romualdez sa isang press briefing nitong Biyernes kung saan siya natanong kaugnay ng sinabi ni Pimentel na nag-uugnay sa Kamara sa PI.

“We haven’t pass any resolution, we don’t have to pass any bill, we don’t have to set anything for hearings. There are no formal functions or participation of congressmen or senators. ‘Yan ay PI.

The PI contemplates the power of the people. Di ba? So that’s it,” sabi pa nito.

“Walang partisipasyon ang mga congressmen d’yan, so I dont know what they’re making reference to,” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Ayon sa kongresista na kinatawan ng unang distrito ng Leyte, mistulang nakakakita ng multo si Pimentel at kanyang mga kapwa senador kaugnay ng PI at sa pangangalap ng pirma kaugnay nito.

“They’re seeing ghosts all over the place. Let the people decide. We expect the process of the PI–all the senators’ problems with the PI, the conduct of which they can take it up with the Comelec or raise whatever allegations that I see are quite baseless in the proper courts,” dagdag pa nito.

Kasabay nito, sinabi ni Romualdez na wala itong nakikitang masama kung sasagot ang mga kongresista at senador kaugnay ng PI upang maipaliwanag ito sa publiko.

“Pero at the end of the day, senators and congressmen are people no? So as long as you are not using government funds, you are not using your offices in pursuit of these purely civilian activities, you’re in good stead,” dagdag panni Speaker Romualdez