Former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. on Tuesday, January 30, said the collection of signature for Charter change (cha-cha) via People's Initiative (PI) continues despite the poll body's suspension of all PI proceedings.
"Sa aking pagkakaintindi, gumagawa lang sila [Comission on Elections] ng guidelines, so tuloy pa rin [ang pagkalap ng pirma]. Sinasangguni ko ang aking volunteers, convenors, tuloy pa rin," he told DZRH in an interview during Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
According to Garbin, at least 12.7 percent signatures of active voters from legislative districts have been collected nationwide.
Under Republic Act 6735 or the Initiative and Referendum Act, any referendum or petition to amend the Constitution must garner signatures from at least 12 percent of the total number of Filipino voters and with every legislative district represented by at least three percent of the voters' signatures.
Cong. Alfredo Garbin Jr., AKO BICOL: Gumagawa lang sila [COMELEC] ng guidelines, so tuloy pa rin [pagkalap ng pirma]. #MagandangUmagaPilipinas #SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) January 29, 2024
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Meanwhile, the former congressman disagreed to former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio's statement that PI is "unconstitutional" as it seeks to revise the Philippine 1987 Constitution.
Garbin noted that they only move to amend one-line in the Consitution which would clarify the voting system during a Consitutional Assembly.
"Hindi sinabi doon [sa 1987 Consitution] whether voting jointly or voting separately. Nililinaw na lang natin, ang proposed amendment natin ay "voting jointly upon the call of the President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives" para malinaw at hindi magkaroon ng kalituhan. Bakit natin ito pino-propose? Kasi ito ang source ng confusion, and dito rin nagkakaroon ng deadlock. Kapag hindi gumalaw ang Senado, wala nang mangyayar kahit anong gawin pa sa House of Representatives," he said.
The former congressman also pointed out the PI would not affect the government's check and balance.
"Walang naapektuhan na check and balance kasi kapag ang Kongreso ay sitting as Consitutional Assembly, one body, gano'n talaga ang procedure. Nandoon ang check and balance sa pamamaraan ng isang plebesito kung saan magsasang-ayon ang taumbayan kung gusto nila to propose amendment or ayaw nila," he said.
The Senate earlier issued a manifesto thumbing down the PI for cha-cha. The 24 Senators who signed the manifesto had said that the PI only want to eliminate the upper chamber to easier amend the Consitution.
