President Marcos has refuted claims that cash has been offered to Filipinos in exchange of their signatures to push Charter change through People's Initiative.
"Sa pagkakaalam ko, wala namang ganun. Ang sinasabi hindi bayaran ng cash kundi nangangako ng kung ano anong benefits (As far as I know, it's not happening. They say it is not buying through cash but through promises of benefits)," Marcos said in an interview on the sidelines of the official launch of the Lung Transplant Program in Quezon City on Tuesday, Jan. 23.
While the President denied that buying of signatures on the ground is not happening, he pointed out that it would not be accepted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
He also said that he will just let the Comelec "do their job" and validate those signatures submitted to them.
"Well, pagkabinayaran 'yang signature hindi tatanggapin ng Comelec iyon. So walang mangyayari dun (Well, if the signature was bought, the Comelec will not accept it)," Marcos said.
"So we will just have to let Comelec to do their job, do their work, and to validate the signatures and if there's a suspicion na may ganun nga e hindi ibibilang 'yung mga signature na iyon (that it is actually happening, those signatures will not be counted), Marcos added.
The Chief Executive also said he has asked the legislature about the signature buying scheme, and even thought of halting the release of benefits at the moment to prevent the scheme.
However, he took it back as many people are waiting and expected to benefit from the programs allegedly used to secure signatures.
"Tinanong ko sa lahat, sa ating legislature 'totoo ba 'yan.' Hindi naman nagbago 'yung mga release namin, constant pa rin (I asked everyone, in our legislature if it was true. Our release is not changing, and it is constant)," he said.
"So sinabi ko the other thing is para hindi tayo pagdudahan, stop muna natin 'yung pag release ng mga benepisyo, e hindi naman maganda rin 'yun kasi may nangangailangan talaga (So I said the other thing is to stop the release temporarily to avoid suspicions, but it is not good as many are in need)," he added.