Senators on PI signature withdrawal: No explanation needed
By Dhel Nazario
At A Glance
- Senators said that individuals who want to withdraw their signatures from People's Initiative (PI) signature sheets should no longer be required by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to explain their reason for retraction.
Senators said that individuals who want to withdraw their signatures from People's Initiative (PI) signature sheets should no longer be required by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to explain their reason for retraction.
Senator Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation. said that the withdrawal of signatures should be as easy as affixing the same.
"Requiring an explanation certainly makes it more difficult for people to withdraw their signatures en masse. They were not asked for an explanation when they signed the PI sheets, why would they be asked to explain themselves if they decide to withdraw their signatures?" she said.
"The Comelec has suspended Resolution 10650 and any and all actions concerning the PI campaign. That is the reason why they cannot act on the withdrawal of signatures right now," she added.
She hopes, however, that the poll body would treat the PI sheets in the same manner that they treat the withdrawal sheets--for recording purposes only.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said that while this was a welcome development from the Comelec regarding the "fake" PI, he appealed to the poll body to not to make it difficult for voters to withdraw their signatures.
"Hindi na rin po dapat hingan pa ng paliwanag ang ating mga kababayan na nais bawiin ang kanilang mga pirma dahil karapatan po nila ito. Kung simple lang ang proseso na pagpirma, dapat simplehan rin po natin ang proseso sa pagbawi nito (We should not ask for an explanation from our citizens who wants to retract their signatures because it's their right. If the process of signing is simple, the process of withdrawing should also be simple)," he said.
"Kaya mahalaga pong magkaroon ng malinaw na direksyon mula sa Comelec lalo na’t ang Korte Suprema na mismo ang nagsabi na walang sapat na batas para sa isang People’s Initiative sa pag-amyenda ng Konstitusyon (It's important that there's a clear direction from Comelec considering especially that it's Supreme Court that said there's no sufficient law for PI to amend the Constitution)," he added.
Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, who urged the Comelec to provide an option for those who want to withdraw their signatures, also welcomed Comelec's initiative.
"I commend the Comelec for heeding my advice not to deprive our people of their right to withdraw their signatures which is sacred to them," he said.
Meanwhile, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that with or without providing a reason or an explanation, they will accept the withdrawal forms.
In accordance with Memorandum No. 240187, the poll body released the Withdrawal Form of Signature in Signature Sheets/Petition for People's Initiative.
In a post, Comelec said that this was only for the purpose of recording those who have manifested their intention to withdraw their signatures and should not be taken as a formal action on the matter.