THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday indefinitely suspended the acceptance of signature sheets in connection with the move to amend the constitution through People’s Initiative (PI).
According to Comelec chairman George Garcia, their decision to stop accepting signatures aims to review first the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
“The Commission en banc came up with a unanimous decision to suspend any and all proceedings concerning the People’s Initiative. Suspend muna namin lahat ng proseso kahit ang pagtanggap ng local Comelec ng mga signature sheets,” Garcia said in a press conference at the Comelec Central Office in Intramuros, Manila.
He said based on their assessment, they need to review, enhance and amend the IRR regarding the PI.
Garcia said there are things that are not in their guidelines.
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel welcome the decision by the Comelec to stop all proceedings related to the people’s initiative seeking to revise the 1987 Constitution.
“Nagising din sa katotohanan. I am glad that Comelec has listened to us and the Filipino people. This move is Comelec’s acknowledgement of limitations of its authority. I repeat, the Comelec has no authority under the law to formulate guidelines on people’s initiative, even to accept signatures,” Pimentel said.
According to Senator Grace Poe, the Comelec has taken the correct path when it stopped the questionable Cha-cha signature campaign.
“A ‘people’s initiative’ that started on the wrong foot and tainted with controversy would not do the country and the people good,” Poe said.
“What we have before us is ‘pekeng initiative’ or fake initiative pushed by politicians and allegedly greased by money to deceive the public to support Cha-cha,” said Poe.
“Kung gusto ng ating mga kababayan ng Cha-cha, sila dapat ang nasa sentro ng tunay na people’s initiative, hindi politiko,” she added.
Poe said senators expect the Comelec order will put to rest this signature drive to focus on the urgent needs of the Filipinos.
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