Comelec to PI proponents: Retrieve signatures

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has asked proponents of the people’s initiative aimed at amending the 1987 Constitution to retrieve the signature sheets from the offices of the poll body.

Since the entire process has been indefinitely suspended, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said it would be better if the proponents retrieve the signature sheets submitted to their local offices.

Garcia said the proponents will only need to return the certification earlier issued by the Comelec to retrieve the signature sheets, whichstates the number of signatures received by the poll body.

He gave assurance that local Comelec offices will adequately safeguard the documents that will not be withdrawn.

Garcia rejected calls for Comelec to throw away the signature sheets, saying they “have a liability on the documents.”

Imee: Throw them out

At a press briefing yesterday, Sen. Imee Marcos urged the Comelec to throw out the papers bearing the signatures in the people’s initiative for Charter change, as these may still be used by proponents in their next attempt to amend the Constitution.

“There are very clear testimonies – photos and videos – that show that the campaign is misleading and deceptive. The Comelec should dismiss outright and disregard all these signatures,” Marcos said.

Marcos said the hearing she conducted at the electoral reforms committee on Tuesday showed that the people’s initiative may still be revived by proponents. She also had information that the gathering of signatures continues.

“These papers may still be recycled for another initiative. So that means this PI is not yet dead,” Marcos said in Filipino.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Marcos presented witnesses who said they were bribed with cash or social assistance in exchange for signatures, or were promised payment to gather signatures from people without duly informing them about the Charter change initiative.

Senate to tackle RBH6

Legal luminaries are expected to assist the Senate in discussing the Resolution of Both Houses 6, a proposal to amend certain economic provisions of the Constitution, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

Zubiri said pillars of the legal community, including retired justices Antonio Carpio, Adolf Azcuna, Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno, would be among those to be invited to the Senate hearing next week.

While some senators and congressmen continue to trade barbs, Zubiri said a Senate sub-committee would be convened next week to discuss RBH 6.

Zubiri said the sub-committee of constitutional amendments to tackle amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution, particularly public services, education and advertising industry, would be headed by Sen. Sonny Angara.

He noted that the creation of a sub-committee has the permission of its chairman, Sen. Robinhood Padilla.

“What he (President Marcos) said was good. He said he doesn’t think PI is a mode to take,” Zubiri said of the President’s pronouncement on Tuesday night. “That’s a clear sign that we can proceed here with RBH6 voting separately.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe maintained the so-called people’s initiative for Charter change was flawed at the onset for focusing on joint voting by Congress, instead of stating the provisions that needed amendment.

Poe said that if the intention of the movers of people’s initiative was on the economic amendments, then the specific provisions should have been spelled out in the petition.

House pleased

Speaker Martin Romualdez was pleased that the Senate will commence the hearings on RBH6 next week, saying this will mark a “significant step toward the much-awaited constitutional amendments.”

“We welcome this latest development as the announcement of Senate President Zubiri demonstrates a united legislative front in addressing crucial changes that have the potential to shape the future of our country,” Romualdez said.

He said the House stands ready to collaborate and contribute to this significant legislative endeavor.

The impact of RBH6 on the country’s economy is minimal compared to that of RBH2 being espoused by the lower chamber, according to House committee on ways and means chair Joey Salceda.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum, Salceda said Zubiri’s resolution limits the amendments to three economic provisions on public services, education and advertising, which will “unlock” only a 3.11 percent growth in the country’s gross domestic product.

On the other hand, RBH2 will amend seven “restrictive” economic provisions, pertaining to agriculture, education, land ownership and lease, public conveyance, media and advertising. Salceda maintained that RBH2 stands to unlock gross domestic potential of 14 percent.

According to Salceda, RBH6 will not make the Philippines competitive with other countries, so the objectives of amending the restrictive economic provisions in the constitution will be defeated.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the House committee on constitutional amendment, yesterday branded the Senate as “obstructionist” when it comes to constitutional reform.

“Our records show that they have consistently been obstructionist when it came to Charter reform in the past three decades – for a total of 12 Congresses or for 34 to 35 years – from the 8th Congress to the present 19th Congress,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

He accused the senators of holding “hostage” the reforms that could have “accelerated our economic growth, generated more investments and created more income and job opportunities for our people.”

Meanwhile, the cleansing of voter list will continue with the resumption of voter registration, according to the Comelec.

Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said the poll body has removed about 500,000 double and multiple registrants from the voters list.

The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Overseas Voting Secretariat and the Comelec Office for Overseas Voting  met to discuss preparations for the implementation of internet voting as one of the modes of voting for the 2025 national elections overseas.

The overseas voting registration for the 2025 national and local elections began last Dec. 9, 2022 and will end on Sept. 30, 2024. – Sheila Crisostomo, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan, Pia Lee-Brago, Marc Jayson Cayabyab