The Commission of Election (Comelec) en banc has suspended "any and all proceedings" regarding the People's Initiative to amend the Philippine 1987 Constitution, its Chairman George Garcia announced on Monday, January 29.
In a press briefing, Garcia said accepting signature papers shall be suspended "indefinitely" until the poll body finishes the review and amendment in the existing Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Comelec Resolution No. 10650.
"The Comission en banc, by unanimous decision, decided to suspend any and all proceeding concerning the People's Iniative. Sinu-suspend natin ang lahat ng proseso sa pagtanggap ng aming local Comelec, from the cities and municipalities ng lahat ng signatureship," he said.
The Comelec chairman there is a need to clarify the provisions stipulated under Comelec Resolution No. 10650 to resolve confusions and thwart conflict.
"Base sa aming initial assesment, kinakailangan namin i-review at dagdagan yung existing Implementing Rules and Regulations concerning the People's Initative dahil sa ating palagay, may mga bagay doon na kulang at wala sa ating guidelines katulad ng withdrawal, rules sa mga opposition na sa bandang huli. Kailangan ito upang maiwasan ang problema, kaguluhan, at hindi pagkakaunawaan doon sa interpretasyon ng probisyon ng ating rules," Garcia said.
"Dapat malinaw sa rules kung ano ba talaga ang covered kapag amendment, ano ba talaga ang covered when you say creation, simply because yung People's Initative, kailangan maging maliwanag iyon," he continued.
A panel tasked to review the resolution's IRR has been formed, according to the poll body chairman.
Meanwhile, Senators welcomed the Comelec en banc's decision.
Senate Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda said she was glad by the suspension, knowing that many citizens were unaware of the cha-cha petition papers they had signed.
Desisyon ng @COMELEC na hindi muna ito tatanggap ng mga pirma para sa People's Initiative, ikinagalak ni Senate Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda. | via RH 28 @RaymundDadpaas pic.twitter.com/euqZwfP4hb
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) January 29, 2024
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva vowed to continue to protect the country's democracy and Filipinos' rights against "fake" People's Initiatives.
'HINDI PA TAPOS ANG LABAN'
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) January 29, 2024
Sinabi ni Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva na patuloy silang magbabantay upang siguraduhin na mapangalagaan ang demokrasya at karapatan ng mga Filipino laban sa mga 'pekeng' People's Initiatives. | via RH 28 @RaymundDadpaas pic.twitter.com/8GvDpqSv1e
