1-Rider Partylist Representative Rodge Gutierrez today welcomed the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to release the forms for those who may want to withdraw their signatures from the current People’s Initiative to amend the Constitution.
At the same time, Gutierrez made an appeal to the Senate to stop meddling in the initiative to amend the Constitution, which he said was a right of the Filipino people as Sovereign.
The Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation led by Sen. Imee Marcos has been conducting hearings on the People’s Initiative.
“That is why we appeal to the Senate to stop meddling in the process of the People’s Initiative. Their investigation is turning into a witch-hunt obviously directed against the House,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez congratulated the poll body for performing its mandate under the Constitution and under existing laws, as its action sends a good signal that democracy and the rule of law are indeed working in the country.
But he said this is not a defeat of the People’s Initiative to amend the Constitution, but a welcome development in the information and education campaign to let the people know about the efforts of well-meaning organizations to remove the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Charter.
“The COMELEC with Chairman Garcia at its helm, in fact, should be congratulated for doing their job and performing their mandate in relation to the People’s Initiative mode of amending the Constitution,” he said.
“Ang COMELEC po ang may mandato para sa proseso ng People’s Initiative. Hindi ang Senado, hindi ang House of Representatives. Kaya nga po People’s Initiative ang tawag dito. Sila ang nakaisip at nangunguna sa pagbabago ng Konstitusyon. Hindi ito dapat pangunahan ng Kongreso,” he added.
Comelec earlier approved in a memorandum a “withdrawal form” for those who signed the People’s Initiative petitions and wish to retract their signatures.
“The Commission, after due deliberation resolved, as it hereby resolves to approve the hereto attacked and forming an integral part hereof, Withdrawal Form for Signatures in the Signature Sheets submitted for Petition for People’s Initiative,” the memorandum read.
“Resolved, further, to instruct the Election Officers to make available to the public the said form, and to receive/ accept the accomplished forms for recording purposes,” it added.
