By Junex Doronio

MANILA — It seems there’s no stopping for the momentum of the voters’ signatures favoring charter change (Cha-Cha) via People’s Initiative (PI) as of Wednesday (24 Jan 2024) two million signatures have been collected.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will continue to accept signatures collected by the People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action (PIRMA) despite opposition from some quarters led by the country’s Senators who declared their unanimous declaration against it by issuing an official manifesto on Tuesday (23 jan 2024).

“We apologize for those who call for the Comelec to stop accepting signatures, as we cannot do it. It is part of our duty as mandated not just in the law but also in the guidelines that the Comelec has promulgated in 2020. If they think that we are doing wrong, then they can question the guidelines”, Comelec chairman George Garcia said.

Since the required number to proceed with the filing of a petition is eight million signatures, or 12 percent of the total registered voters nationwide, and three percent of the registered voters per legislative district, with the two million already collected, only six million signatures are needed to have a plebiscite.

In the plebiscite, the voters will be asked if they agree that the Senate and the House of Representatives will vote jointly for amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

On Tuesday (January 23), all the 24 senators opposed a proposal for both chambers of Congress to vote jointly to change the 1987 Constitution.

The senators said they could not cast meaningful votes against more than 300 congressmen.

As of 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, the poll body said it has issued Election Officer (EO) Certifications to 187 out of 254 legislative districts and 1,010 cities and municipalities.

Garcia said they are still waiting for the remaining 67 legislative districts to submit their signature forms.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — It seems there’s no stopping the momentum of a people’s initiative (PI) seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution to authorize senators and congressmen to vote together in charter change (Cha-Cha).

On Wednesday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia revealed that the poll body has received signature forms for the People’s Initiative or PI from about 400 cities and municipalities.

It was gathered that these areas include Quezon City, Manila, Mandaue in Cebu, Quezon Province, Laguna, and Iloilo.

Garcia said their task at this point is ministerial, meaning they can only accept the signature forms and issue a certification upon receipt of these.

Saying anyone can file the petition, Garcia explained that a petition for the People’s Initiative or PI needs to be filed once they get the required number of signatures before the Comelec can get the process rolling.

Only then will Comelec have jurisdiction on the matter, he clarified.

Comelec can then issue guidelines, give directives, and determine if there is sufficient form and substance.

It can then also verify if the signatures are indeed signatures of registered voters.

The poll body can also check — motu proprio, or on its own — if people signed because they were coerced or if they received something in return.

If this is the case, the signature will be disregarded.

If a violation was committed in obtaining the signature such as the use of public funds, a case may be brought to a court.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

‌MANILA — Saying that it will only be a “waste of time and money,”  the Liberal Party (LP) has junked the proposal to effect amendments to the 1987 Constitution following the renewed push of charter change (Cha-Cha) at the House of Representatives led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

In a statement on Tuesday, December 19, the erstwhile ruling party said pushing Cha-Cha at this point “will take away resources that could otherwise be used to address rising commodity prices, the education crisis, and new environmental and health threats.”

The LP also asked if the 1987 Constitution should be blamed why foreign investors were reluctant to invest in the country.

“Is the Constitution to blame on why investors are not approaching us?” When we open foreign ownership of businesses, are our infrastructures, manpower, and institutions ready for those changes?” the opposition party further said.

It also aired apprehensions that Cha-Cha will not only amend the economic provisions in the charter.

“When the amendment to the Constitution is opened, nothing prohibits the change in other provisions, which also includes those on term limits and the prohibition of political dynasties,” the LP maintained.

It added: “Any additional office, officials, positions, or even expenses are added to the burden of the Filipino people, especially in the midst of the biggest budget deficit and debt-financing in our history after the reckless borrowing from the [Rodrigo] Duterte administration.”

(IAMIGO/MNM)