Comelec expects other areas to follow
A DAY after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued the call, proponents of the people’s initiative (PI) in a town in Antique withdrew the signature sheets they earlier submitted to the local poll office.
In an interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia said that the Hamtic, Antique election officer Mario Meynard Miciano has issued a memorandum reporting that a total of 3,757 signatures contained in 387 pages were retrieved by one Israel de Guzman, who represents petitioner lawyer Anthony Abad.
Miciano said De Guzman returned the original certification issued to him last January 23, 2024, the same day the signature sheets were submitted.
“There is a town in Antique where the signature sheets were withdrawn… They were withdrawn yesterday,” said Garcia, adding: “It is in response to our call that if they believe they can better safekeep the documents, they can withdraw the signatures, but they should also return the certification we issued to them.”
Garcia said he won’t be surprised if similar actions will be undertaken in other areas. “It can also happen in other areas of the country,” said the official.
The Comelec has suspended all agency-related proceedings concerning the controversial PI signature campaign to amend the 1987 Constitution amid bickering among lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives.
At the time of suspension, 1,129 city and municipal OEOs in 210 legislative districts have already received signature sheets.
On Wednesday, the Comelec called on PI proponents to consider withdrawing the signature sheets they have submitted in city/municipal Offices of Election Officers (OEOs) for better safekeeping.
Asked if individual signatories will also be able to cancel their signatures from the OEOs, Garcia answered in the negative.
“For individual signatories, we don’t have a procedure for that yet. If there is no procedure, how can we allow that?” he said.
The poll chief said this is actually one of the provisions that they found lacking when they decided to review their PI guidelines.
“What if we allow (individual) withdrawal, our local Comelec offices may apply different procedures if they have different interpretations. There will be chaos… It’s really best that we suspended the process,” said Garcia.
Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, has earlier urged the Comelec to throw out or destroy the signature sheets, which officials from the poll body said have no expiry dates and can still be used in future petitions.
Garcia said the poll body cannot do what Marcos suggested because “we have a liability on the documents we have received.”
‘STOP MAKING UP STORIES’
Meanwhile, House leaders yesterday slammed the claim of former President Roderigo Duterte that the PI aims to pave the way for a shift to a parliamentary system, saying he is just making up stories to discredit political opponents like he always does.
“Tama na po ‘yung istorya-istorya at kung ano-anong kalokohan (Stop making up stories and other foolishness),” Majority Leader Dalipe told a press conference on Wednesday evening.
Dalipe challenged Duterte to present proof that the House push for constitutional reform includes political amendments which is aimed at installing a prime minister.
“Kaya nga masaya kami ngayon (That’s why we’re happy now) upon learning that the Senate is now going to deliberate on it (Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 seeking economic amendments to the Constitution) ang tagal na po nating hinihintay ‘yan (We waited for so long),” Dalipe said.
Duterte has earlier claimed that once the nation is shifted to the parliamentary form of government, Speaker Martin Romualdez would become prime minister and he would be succeeded by presidential son Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos.
To end his “suspicions,” Dalipe said the former president should read the records and see for himself that what the RBH transmitted to the Senate last year only called for economic amendments.
“Ipakita n’yo po ‘yung dokumento na nagsasabi na (Present a document that says) we are pushing for those type of political changes. We challenge them to check the records of the Senate of what we transmitted,” he said.
He said the House sent to the Senate in March last year Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 “authored by 302 congressmen calling for a constitutional convention to amend the economic provisions.”
Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who chairs the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, said Duterte’s statement that the PI “will lead to some people to become prime minister and there would be a perpetuation of power has no constitutional and legal basis.”
“People’s initiative cannot change the form or system of government. We are unitary, we cannot change it to federal through people’s initiative… we cannot also change a bicameral form of government into a unicameral form, because the PI will only be for amendments,” he said.
“We therefore can see that there is no basis on that and also on the law on people’s initiative, clearly amendments only. So, it can never happen to this PI that there can be a change to parliamentary to have elections for prime minister. And so therefore that is very clear: it has no legal and constitutional basis to say that PI is for perpetuation of power, election of prime minister, and that is very clear,” he said.
Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit said a people’s initiative and even Congress sitting as a constituent assembly cannot change the nation’s system of government.
“That can only be done by way of a constitutional convention of representatives elected by the people in a separate election. Hindi na kami ang gagawa nun. It’s very clear that it is not on the table,” he said.
‘NOT GOOD’
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday warned the Filipino faithful against falling for the “deceptive” PI drive, saying such actions are “not good” for the nation.
In a statement released after the 127th CBCP Plenary Assembly, the CBCP said the public should be careful against the ongoing drive to gather signatures in support of the PI as it allegedly involves the deception of the faithful.
“We are concerned about the reports of signatures gathered across the country for a so-called People’s Initiative. Many could sign for various reasons, but it is clear that their signing is not the result of a careful study and discussion. It seems that this people’s initiative was initiated by a few public servants and not truly from the initiative of ordinary citizens,” said the CBCP statement signed by CBCP president Bishop Pablo David.
“If that is the case, it involves deception and disregard for our true and free participation in the democratic process of our country. Is that good?” it added.
The bishops said such deceptive acts makes the PI drive unacceptable as it will not bode well for the country.
“This is not a simple signature. By signing, you are giving our lawmakers the power to change our Constitution… Our prayer is that we will not sign or agree to any petition without careful discernment, discussion, and prayer,” they said.
“Let us not allow such deceptive systems to continue, encouraging those who continuously exploit our nation. Truly, this is not good!” added CBCP.
For their part, the CBCP said the bishops will use the suspension order of the Comelec on all its PI processes as an opportunity to educate the public on Charter change.
“We should not be complacent, as there may be other attempts for this Charter Change,” they said, adding: “We will strive to initiate discussions about the Constitution and the issues facing our nation. Our hope is to reflect and decide for the genuine good of all!”
From January 27 to 29, more than 80 bishops and archbishops from across the country attended the 127th CBCP Plenary Assembly to discuss prevailing parochial, pastoral, and social issues. — With Wendell Vigilia
