Senate probe not helping in peace between chambers; QUIMBO: SPEAKER IS OUR ‘PADRE DE FAMILIA’

MARIKINA City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo on Monday said parliamentary peace between the Senate and the House of Representatives will be difficult to achieve if the former continues its probe on the People’s Initiative, especially when senators attack Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, which she likened to a “padre de familia’ or head of the family.

Quimbo said that the House of Representatives will heed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s call for a stop to the word war with the Senate and engage in healthy and democratic debates when it comes to the need to amend the Constitution on its restrictive economic provisions.

“Klaro naman po sa sinabi ng Presidente, ang kailangan po natin sa ngayon – at very clear ang sinabi ng Presidente – healthy and democratic debate (on the need to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution),” Quimbo said.

“Ang problema kasi, pag may mga inquiries sa Senado na nakaka-apekto dito po sa pag-achieve natin ng peace, that doesn’t help. Especially pag naa-atake si Speaker. Siya po ang padre de pamilya namin. He takes care of us. We need to also take care of him,” she said.

The Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation chaired by Sen. Imee Marcos is currently conducting hearings on the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution.

“So doon din po kami nanggagaling. But enough said. We will stick to healthy and democratic debate, as instructed by the President … That’s the kind of environment we seek to foster, one of healthy and democratic (debate),” Quimbo said.

On allegations of Sen. Nancy Binay that the House is engaging in parliamentary bullying of senators, Quimbo and Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David “Jayjay” Suarez said this was not true.

“Well, ‘yun nga ‘yong sinasabi ko na wala namang bullying na nangyayari. I think what the Senate is seeing is that the House is more vocal when it comes to national issues, the House is more vocal talking about issues close to their heart, the House is reacting to what is happening in our country,” said Suarez.

“And in any democracy, that should be a welcome development … So ako naman ang Valentines’ wish ko para kay Senator Nancy eh sana let love rule.  So kung let love rule, mahalin natin ang bansang Pilipinas, bilisan nila ‘yong pagpapasa ng RBH 6 para magawa na namin sa House ‘yong trabaho natin, at maayos na nating to’ng Saligang Batas,” he added.

Quimbo echoed the statements of Suarez, saying members of the House are “peace-loving” people, but they cannot keep silent on important matters such as their position on amending the economic provisions of the Constitution.

“Una sa lahat, Happy Valentine’s Sen. Nancy at sa lahat ng mga senators.  Ano naman po kami, I think lahat naman tayo dito ay peace-loving people, gusto naman talaga natin ‘yan. And do’n po sa pananahimik, klaro naman po sa sinabi ng Presidente, ang kailangan po natin sa ngayon, healthy and democratic debate,” she said.

“So hindi po tayo pwedeng manahimik dahil napakaimportante po ng problemang hinaharap natin. Kulang ang trabaho, kulang ang kapital. Kung hindi natin ito aaksyunan, patuloy pong aalis ang ating mga kababayan para lamang masuportahan ang mga pamilya nila,” she added.

Quimbo said that people’s participation in the constitutional amendment debate is also imperative. This why on Wednesday, the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives will hold a briefing on the economic indicators that necessitate the amendments to the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution.

“Invited ang lahat. Nag-invite tayo ng academe, researchers, members of various government agencies. Tatalakayin po natin ang research na ginawa ng CPBRD. That’s an example of the activities that we are doing here in the House to promote healthy and democratic debate as instructed by the President.”