The Commission on Elections (Comelec) could utilize the additional P13 billion under its 2024 budget for the conduct of the proposed national plebiscite on charter change, its chairman George Garcia said on Thursday, January 11.
Interviewed during DZRH Dos Por Dos, Garcia said the P13 billion, which was given to Comelec during the bicameral conference committee last year, falls in the line item called "recall, initiative, referendum, and other election preparation."
"Kung tutuusin, yes, tama kayo. Pwede naming magamit 'yon [P13 billion] sapagkat doon nakalagay sa item na 'yon ang budget na 'yan," he said when asked if the extra budget could be alloted for the proposed national plebiscite.
According to the Comelec chairman, the national plebiscite requires a P13.4 billion budget.
"Mga P13.4 billion siguro ang magagastos natin kung sakaling kasama ang OFW [overseas Filipino workers] kasi may reverse logistics. Ang ibigsabihin no'n, kapag nagpadala tayo ng ballot boxes, kasi manual ang halalan kapag ganitong klase dahil wala tayong makina. Pagkatapos ay ibabalik ito sa Pilipinas kaya may reverse logistics. 'Yan ay medyo mahal ng kaunti iyon," he said.
Atty, George Garcia, Comelec, Chairman: Hndi talaga namin alam, dahil remember noong magdefend kami ng budget, kami ay binawasan ng P17.4 billion. #DosPorDos#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) January 10, 2024
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Garcia, however, clarified that they have no idea why Congress provided them the extra P13 billion.
The poll body Chairman claimed they originally anticipated that P17.4 billion would be returned to them after the budget and management department reduced their budget.
"Hindi talaga namin alam, dahil remember noong mag-defend kami ng budget, kami ay binawasan ng P17.4 billion. Tayo ay nagmamakaawa sa Kongreso at sa ating Senado na baka pwedeng maibalik. Noong maipasa ang budget ng House, wala ang aming hinihinging dagdag kasi binawasan kami ng P17.4 billion ng DBM," he explained .
One petition for one proposed amendment
Citing a Supreme Court decision, Garcia said that there must be only one petition seeking to amend one provision under the Philippine constitution.
"Hindi pupwede na napakadaming panukalang probisyon tapos isang petition lang. Isang panukala, isang petition lang ang pinapayagan," he added.
The Comelec chairman said that a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) or Constitutional Assembly (Con-Ass) must be held instead if there would be an "overhaul" of proposed changes.
"Kaya dapat isang section lang, isang petition. At sabi ng Saligang batas din, kung halimbawa ay nagkaroon ng pagbabago sa section, ang susunod na pagbabago ay five years," he noted.
The cha-cha talks revived this January after Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman revealed that there was a paid people’s initiative campaign pushing for charter change.
He also claimed in a separate press statement that the bicameral conference committee "inserted" the P12 billion in Comelec's 2024 budget for the purposes of “plebiscites, among others, related to the charter change agenda."
