The Commission on Elections (Comelec) should utilize the P12-billion fund supposedly earmarked for a plebiscite to prepare for the May 2025 midterm elections or other purposes, two senators urged the poll body on Wednesday, January 31.
Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the fund—which was a last-minute addition to the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA)—should now be used for other purposes considering that it was “neither in the President’s proposed budget nor in the Comelec’s original submission.”
Escudero said it was clear that fund was included in anticipation of the success of the public signature campaign for the People’s Initiative (PI) to amend the 1987 Constitution.
“But now that the horse is dead; there is no more use for the cart…Ang importante dapat ‘no touch’ na ‘yang pondo na ‘yan. Kasi kung nandiyan pa ‘yan, baka bumangon pa sa libingan itong pekeng initiative (What is important is that fund should not be touched. Because if it is still available, this fake initiative may still be revived),” Escudero pointed out.
“That P12 billion should now be repurposed and put beyond the reach of PI,” he insisted.
Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, said it is apparent that the fund should be returned to the National Treasury.
Sen. Imee Marcos (Senate PRIB Photo)
But since the Comelec is a constitutional body, Marcos suggested that the poll body use the funds for whatever needs they have including using the P12-billion to augment the salary of their personnel, or procure additional buildings or rent additional spaces.
“Di naman pwedeng i-shift yan para sa national elections eh, yung sa ating midterm elections. Kasi di naman pwedeng palipat lipat ang mga pondo (They cannot shift the funds for use for the upcoming national elections, for the midterm elections. The funds cannot be used for that),” Marcos said.
“Kung may P2-billion preparation for 2025. Pero yung P12-billion eh talagang nakatago pala dun Chacha eh. Di naman pwede yun. Kung wala nang Cha -cha dapat ibalik yun (If there is already P2-billion available for the preparation for 2025, but that P12-billion is to be used for Charter change. That’s not allowed. If there is no Charter change, the funds should be returned),” she said.
Marcos noted that during the budget deliberations, the Comelec has been requesting for additional budget for buildings, salary augmentation, and other equipment such as papers and transportation vehicles.
“So maganda, itong P12-billion, ibalik natin sa Comelec, pero dun sa talagang kailangan nila, na hindi Cha-Cha (So its best, that this P12-billion be used by the Comelec, but for that specific purpose, and not for Charter change),” she said.