By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Amid the fiery debates over charter change (Cha-Cha) via people’s initiative (PI) that tends to polarize the nation, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday announced that it has suspended “indefinitely” the acceptance of signature sheets by the local Comelec offices pending the review and revision of the said guidelines.
Comelec chairperson George Garcia disclosed in a press conference that the Comelec en banc unanimously voted for the suspension of Comelec Resolution No. 10650 which covers the guidelines for the PI.
“We honestly believe, base sa aming initial assessment, kailangan naming i-review, i-enhance, dagdagan ‘yung aming existing IRR o implementing rules and regulations concerning the people’s initiative dahil sa ating palagay, may mga bagay doon na kulang at wala doon sa ating guidelines,” Garcia declared.
He added: “Kailangan po ito para maiwasan ang problema, kaguluhan, at hindi pagkakaunawaan doon sa interpretasyon ng probisyon ng ating mga rules.”
Maharlika NuMedia learned that as of January 26, 2024, the Comelec has so far received signature forms for the PI from a total of 1,072 municipalities and cities.
Garcia clarified again that the submitted signature sheets were not yet verified by the Comelec as the required number of signatures has not yet been met.
He further said that there is no formal petition yet for the PI.
“Sa aming palagay, sana naman ‘wag kaming obligahin kung gaano kahaba o kaiksi ‘yung panahon na kakailanganin namin para ma-review namin ang rules. Sinabi rin naman ng Korte Suprema sa naging desisyon niya… na dapat ang people’s initiative ay isang kapangyarihan ng mamamayan at dahil dito, dapat siguraduhin natin that the people will able to exercise really this right under the constitution,” Garcia stressed.
Earlier, President Ferdinand ‘“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. when asked for his thoughts on the PI, replied that: “Let Comelec do their job.”
To recall, in December last year, presidential cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said that the House of Representatives was keen on launching a people’s referendum to determine how the House and the Senate should vote on proposals amending the 1987 Constitution.
(el Amigo/MNM)
