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He gave assurance that local Comelec offices will adequately safeguard the documents that will not be withdrawn.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

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.

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,