PIRMA lead convenor refuses to submit donors' list for 'EDSA-pwera' TV ad

The lead convenor of People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action (PIRMA) on Tuesday failed to submit the donors' list in the P55 million pro-Charter change (Cha-cha) television advertisement during a Senate probe. 

PIRMA lead convenor Noel Oñate told senators that some of the donors refused to be identified due to privacy and security concerns.

"They didn't want their names divulged or revealed. The reason that they gave me is that they are concerned with their privacy, they are concerned with their security," Oñate said.

This comes after Senator Imee Marcos, chair of the Senate committee on electoral reform, reminded him to submit the documents related to the "EDSA-pwera" advertisement that was aired in early January as requested by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.

"I had all the intention of fulfilling what I said. I think I told you that we will submit the list of the donors with my lawyers, but I obeyed what Senator Chiz [Escudero] mentioned here that, 'maybe, you might want to consult your contributors' which I did," Oñate said.

Alex Avisado, legal counsel of Oñate, meanwhile, said that his client was also "forced to return'' some of the contributions of the donors because of their refusal to divulge their names.

Asked to confirm Avisado's statement, Oñate said, "Yes, that's what I did."

Oñate said he withdrew P28 million from his personal bank accounts to cover for the donations of the contributors who did not want their names to be revealed.

Marcos, however, emphasized that a subpoena had already been served for PIRMA to submit the documents related to the actual cost of signature forms, list of donors, proof of payment of donors' tax, invoice and official receipt for the television ad, among others.

Reveal

Some senators questioned the supposed hesitation of the donors and said that they should rather be "proud" of their advocacy.

"Ang sa akin lang, Mr. Oñate, nu'ng pumasok sila sa ganitong advocacy, 'di ba dapat ready na sila at proud to say na pinaglalaban nila itong Charter change, itong people's initiative. So parang nakakagulat na all of the sudden, hindi na sila naniniwala sa advocacy na pinondohan nila," Senator Nancy Binay said.

For her part, Senator Risa Hontiveros said, "donors should reveal themselves unless talagang iba ang funder."

During the first hearing of the Senate electoral reforms committee's investigation into the alleged bribery and payoffs in the latest people's initiative, Oñate admitted that he coordinated with House Speaker Martin Romualdez to get 3% of signatures per congressional district for the people's initiative for Cha-cha.

Oñate explained that the assistance extended by the congressmen to them were merely "administrative" and "advisories" on where to get the signatures.

Romualdez had denied involvement in unlawful activities such as vote-buying in relation to the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution.

However, he confirmed that he met with PIRMA lead convenor Noel Oñate in his townhouse.

Signature campaign

The signature campaign led by PIRMA asked voters if they are in favor of amending Article 17 Section 1 of the Constitution by allowing all members of Congress to jointly vote on proposed constitutional amendments.

This amendment is a departure to the existing provision which does not explicitly state whether the House of Representatives and the Senate should vote jointly or separately on proposed amendments to the Charter via constituent assembly.

These efforts to amend the Constitution via people’s initiative has become controversial after several lawmakers disclosed that the public were allegedly bribed or promised with government aids in exchange for their signatures.

The senators slammed these efforts, which they believed was supported by the House of Representatives, particularly Romualdez.

The Senate unanimously released a manifesto against the present people’s initiative efforts, saying the House is out to abolish the Senate given that the document for signature asks voters if they are in favor of amending the Charter to allow members of Congress to jointly vote on constitutional amendments, a setup which would consider the vote of 24 senators and more than 300 House members.

The Commission on Elections had already ordered the suspension of all proceedings related to people’s initiative. —VAL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News