“Cebu City is not for sale. Our country is not for sale.”

These were the words of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama during the Cebu leg of the ‘Hakbang ng Maisug’ rally on February 25, 2024.

The rally started in Davao City in January 2024 to oppose the moves to amend the Philippine Constitution through a People’s Initiative (PI), a mechanism that allows Filipinos to propose amendments to the Constitution even without congressional action.

At that time, the move was hounded by reports that money was being offered to people in exchange for their signature for the PI.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has since suspended all proceedings related to the PI.

But the rally organized by ‘Hakbang ng Maisug’ continued. The rally in Cebu City was dubbed “Filipinos are Not For Sale” (For Transparency, Accountability, Peace & Security in our Country) participated in by an estimated 30,000 supporters, a number flew in from Manila, Davao City, Biliran, Leyte, among other places.

Rama, in a speech, reiterated that he is against the PI. He asked those present at the rally to stay true to the purpose of the gathering.

He called for unity and even went on to seek divine providence.

“San Pedro Calungsod, pray for us. Birhen sa Guadalupe, pray for us… Santo Niño, Santo Niño, Santo Niño, have mercy on us,” he said.

Rama urged the Marcos-Duterte team to stand by their promises to the people.

"Marcos-Duterte do your job. Sakto ko? Marcos-Duterte do your job because when we can see things are not going well it will always be the people complaining. Vox populi vox Dei, the voice of the people is the voice of God; salus populi est suprema lex, the general welfare of the people is the supreme law. When the welfare of the people will be desecrated, trampled upon, then the people will be disenchanted, the people will look for something that they will be comfortable and they will be granted," Rama stated.

He also underscored his decision to support the prayer rally. 

"Without fear of any contradiction anywhere I can stand. When we talk about our stand for the country, you can count on Mike Rama," he stressed. 

Joining Rama at the rally was his political ally, Councilor Donaldo Hontiveros. Other local officials who supported former President Rodrigo Duterte were visibly absent at the rally.

DUTERTE

Like in Davao City, Duterte also attended the rally in Cebu City and said that changes to the Constitution needs proper consultation with various sectors, as provisions must make sure these apply to various tribes or ethnic groups like those in Mindanao.

“Ang Pilipinas may mga tribu, naa tay mga indigenous people, naay Christians, and Muslims. Ang Constitution ra maoy naghugpong ana nga mga grupo. The constitution holds as one our diverse people. Kung imo nang usbon, magkakagulo talaga,” Duterte said.

Duterte reiterated that Charter Change must not be used to extend the term of current officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

“For as long as he does not use Charter Change to extend his term, wala ra gyud untay problema. Ayaw lang paglukso or pag-shortcut kay magkaproblema ta ana. Mo-object gyud ko,” Duterte said.

Among the prominent individuals who joined Duterte in Cebu City were his sons, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, and celebrity host Willie Revillame.

SENATE OPPOSITION

At the height of the PI controversy, the Senate issued a manifesto condemning the initiative.

"We respect and recognize the people as our sovereign, with the right to call for Constitutional amendments. We must, however, guard against any sinister and underhanded attempt to change the Constitution by exploiting our democratic process under the guise of a people's initiative," the manifesto read.

"This so-called 'people's' initiative (PI) proposes only one change: in acting as a constituent assembly, the Senate and the House shall vote jointly. While it seems simple, the goal is apparent to make it easier to revise the Constitution by eliminating the Senate from the equation. It is an obvious prelude to further amendments, revisions, or even an overhaul of our entire Constitution," it read further.