To yield such a wish, there are three ways in the array of hopes to make charter change come to fruition: the Constituent Assembly (ConAss), where senators and congressmen convene and work on constitutional changes; the Constitutional Convention (ConCon), where delegates are elected to frame the new charter; and the People’s Initiative (PI), where cumulative petitions of electorates are compelled. On 24 January, Wednesday, PI supporters asserted that the collective “voice” for ChaCha swelled and beat the 12% threshold, meaning, the signature drive amassed 3% of electorates in each congressional district —the last straw of effort to make ChaCha sway — putting the PI venture on the crest of a wave, while others face the woe of drowning beneath. 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘅 Speaking of drowning, all 24 senators of the upper house raised a collective voice of defiance regarding the House of Representatives-backed PI drive, which was objectified via manifesto a day prior to the notice of PI success on 23 January this year. "The Senate once again stands as a bastion of democracy as it rejects this brazen attempt to violate the Constitution, the country, and our people...the Senate of the people will not allow itself to be silenced," the senators lamented. With the People’s Initiative paving the way for ConAss, both the upper and lower chambers ought to vote jointly on charter change, with the senate’s power diluted by that of the House of Representatives'. Twenty-four senate individual tickets will be overwhelmed by the lower house's number, which crosses over tenfold, spurring terror at the upper end of the bicameral congress. As such, the Senate of the Philippines issued Senate P.S. Resolution no. 920 on 24 January to challenge the “constitutionality, validity, and irregularities'' involved in the People’s Initiative, beckoning the authority of the upper chamber’s president to “file appropriate action before the proper tribunal.” This is sought following a series of brazen measures knocked off in the attempt to swing the PI drive, and hence welcome the charter change striding into the playoff of politics. As the Senate further deplored, the purported state-mobilized signature drive towards the People’s Initiative is a "sinister and underhanded attempt to change the constitution by exploiting our democratic process." This poses a valid trigger to weep for, consequently, this PI success also falters the system of checks and balances that has been placed to regularize offices and authorities. In a landscape with power at its crux, a check-and-balance system is a holy grail towards restraint of power excess. Yet, with the People’s Initiative that ought to give way for ConAss, disproportionate power will be handed to the lower chamber of the legislative branch. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 The “disproportionately” greater power to wield by the lower house wouldn't have been casted if not backed by people from the grassroots. In fact, what made this national issue even more contentious were the recorded bribery incidences, staging people behind clouds of deception. Local state officers roam on the ground to secure signatures from residents, but not without hiding the ulterior motive behind the plea.In some cases, every signature count translates to incentives in the form of goods and monetary assistance, taking advantage of the fact that people have not much to receive, which will ease their less fortunate standing. One more thing: fuel is added to the fire. On 30 January, Tuesday, pro-Cha-Cha group named People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action (PIRMA) lead convenor Noel Oñate confirmed the circulating allegations that House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez laid a hand for Cha-Cha efforts to take effect. "We coordinate with the Speaker and the congressmen in getting the 3% per congressional district," Oñate admitted via a Senate probe concerning the Cha-cha discord. With smokes getting clear now on the dubious payoffs throughout the signature campaign, masks are ripped off the sheep, conveying the authentic picture concealed by the skin from the outside: a wolf starving for perfected vested interests — all by systemic plotting of a perfect deceit.