30-40% of P’sinan voters to join people’s initiative

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan — Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino said they can easily gather the signatures of 30 to 40 percent of registered voters in the province for the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution.

Lambino told The STAR that he was basing this on the feedback that he has been getting from the mayors and barangay heads of the four cities and 44 municipalities of Pangasinan where barangay assemblies for the signature drive are being held.

There are other officials who can even deliver up to 90 percent, he said.

The people’s initiative targets the signatures of at least six million registered voters to pave the way for Charter change.

Lambino, however, admitted that residents of some places, including a barangay here, refuse to take part in the people’s initiative.

"Well, that’s democracy and we cannot force the people to sign something which they don’t agree to or which they do not fully understand," he said.

He denied rumors that money is being distributed to entice people to sign.

"Definitely, in the province of Pangasinan, I can say that no government funds (were being) used for this purpose," he said.

Meanwhile, Pangasinense lawyer Raul Lambino, national spokesman of the Sigaw ng Bayan Movement, an umbrella organization of some 100 people’s, non-government and other sectoral groups, said he agreed with the vice governor’s observations.

He said he was in Dagupan City the other day to observe the barangay assemblies which were held simultaneously across the province.

He said about 800 of the 1,200 barangays in Pangasinan have completed gathering signatures for the people’s initiative.

He said these barangay assemblies showed that "the enthusiasm for Charter change is irreversible."

"Atalusan da la ya say presidential system su ag la onkuri (They have understood that this presidential system is no longer effective)," he said.

"There is now an overwhelming clamor for change," he added, citing the slow delivery of basic services due to too much bureaucratic red tape inherent in a presidential system.

He denied that sardines and other grocery items were being distributed to the people in exchange of their signatures.

"Everything is being done voluntarily. Where will I get the money?" he said.

He said he is "also reaching out to the media so we can create an atmosphere of lively debate on this matter."