Comelec suspends indefinitely all Pl proceedings

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended all proceedings related to the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution.

- MAYEN JAYMALIN

“The commission en banc by a unanimous decision decided to suspend any and all proceedings concerning the people’s initiative,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced at a press conference yesterday.

Garcia said all election officers nationwide are directed to immediately refrain from accepting signature sheets for the people’s initiative, until the poll body can “review, enhance” Comelec Resolution No. 10650 governing the people’s initiative, or possibly “add” some provisions.

The poll chief emphasized their decision has nothing to do with the Senate’s objection to the people’s initiative.

He said they saw the need to review the existing guidelines amid numerous issues raised, such as the possible withdrawal of signatures and alleged bribery.

Garcia said the existing implementing rules and regulations have no provisions addressing the issues being raised even before a formal petition is filed before the Commission.

“In the end, we need to fix the problem, the confusion over the interpretation of rules,” Garcia pointed out.

He said the commission has no timeline and is not rushing its review of the IRR.

Garcia said the commission, acting as a whole, has designated the executive director to head the team tasked to review the rules and regulations.

So far, different Comelec local offices have received signature sheets from 209 of the 254 legislative districts nationwide.

All the accepted signature sheets, Garcia said, shall remain under the safekeeping of the local offices. The poll body can return them to signature drive proponents if they want.

Garcia stressed it is the right time to review the IRR while the commission has yet to receive a formal petition for a plebiscite on the Chacha move.