Mixed bag of goodies for ‘initiative’ signers

A ZAMBALES congresswoman recently launched an "innovative" signature campaign for the people’s initiative by handing out rice bags, canned goods and even "t-back" panties (thongs) to her constituents, said Sen. Richard Gordon.

Gordon, chair of the committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws, said the legislator, whom he did not identify, played Santa to her constituents on her birthday.

Zambales has a lone woman legislator, Milagros Magsaysay who represents the first district.

She is relative of Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Rep. Eulogio "Amang" Magsaysay of the party-list Alliance of Volunteer Educators. The latter withdrew his signature in the amended impeachment complaint against President Arroyo last year after he reportedly received a check worth P5 million from Gina de Venecia, wife of Speaker Jose de Venecia.

"This is the epitome of patronage politics and lack of respect, that these politicians would exploit the poverty of our people to propagate their political agenda," Gordon said. "As early as that week, I already sounded the warning that moves like these could be used to promote charter change," he said.

"This is what it has become. Politicians are giving rice, goods and money in exchange for signatures. Mina-maliit nila ang Constitution, habang binobobo at inaapi ang mga tao dahil hindi sila nabibigyan mg sapat na pagkakataong pag-aralan ang Constitution," Gordon said. – Dennis Gadil - Malaya