Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the claim of the three Negros bishops that assistance was used as leverage to gather signatures in support of the “people’s initiative” to amend the Constitution should be proven.
“That is something that they have to prove. If they have strong evidence to prove that, then they can present that to Comelec,” Lacson said Friday, January 26.
Bishops Patricio Buzon of Bacolod, Louie Galbines of Kabankalan and Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos in a joint statement Thursday said “our nation again stands at a crossroads, with the ongoing movement to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution through a widespread signature campaign”.
“The reports of unethical practices, such as using social assistance as leverage to gather signatures and other manipulative practices, are deeply troubling. These acts are not only morally reprehensible but also erode the integrity of our democratic institutions,” they said.
The Church categorically condemns such practices and calls for integrity in all civic engagements, they said.
Lacson said the “people’s initiative” is constitutional so if the Church is against it they should ask Congress to amend the Constitution and remove that provision.”
He would like to hear from the Church, “if they believe there is a need to amend the Constitution ever”, Lacson said.
Lacson said he would like to hear their position on whether there is a need to improve the economic provisions of the Constitution to improve the economy.
Those who wish to withdraw their signatures in support of the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution are free to do so, he also said.
NPA ALARMED
Meanwhile, red commanders and fighters of the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command – Northern Negros Guerrilla Front of the New People’s Army (RJPC-NPA) in a statement released Friday said they are alarmed over numerous reports of dubious schemes to hoodwink eligible voters into signing the so-called ‘people’s initiative’ to amend the Constitution.
The citizens are deceived and forced to sign the people’s initiative through work offers under the TUPAD program, continuation and unchanged status of 4Ps beneficiaries, and P20 million from Sen. Imee Marcos, among others, Ka Cecil Estrella, RJPC-NPA spokesperson said.
“Barangay officials and employees lead the signature campaign in their respective territories through strenuous house-to-house, group meetings or individual invitation. There was no discussion with residents pertinent to the PI”, Estrella said.
“The economic crisis is easily capitalized on because any remedy to the immediate distressing situation, just like false promises of the reactionary government’s dole-out finance project, is eagerly welcomed by people,” Estrella added.
Estrella also alleged that the cities of Sagay, Escalante, and San Carlos, as well as the town of Calatrava in Negros Occidental, are now the prospects of neoliberal programs to accommodate solar farms, modular nuclear plants, bulk water projects, and economic zones.
“While RJPC-NPA recognizes the people’s right to engage in the people’s initiative…we denounce the deceptive mechanisms to accumulate support for a PI that is laden with interests of foreign monopoly capitalists,” the statement said.
RJPC-NPA also commended a few mayors on their decision to disengage in active participation of such PI signature gathering and allow freedom of individuals to take action (or not) in PI.
The RJPC-NPA ordered all it units, including units of people’s militia and self-defense corps, to complete its investigation on the mechanisms of gathering signatures for PI, collect evidences, identify key players of such deceptive signature gathering, and arrest individuals caught red-handed for questioning and confiscate signature sheets as evidence and further study.
All revolutionary forces should expose to the masses the ultimate goal of such signature gathering, the people’s initiative and the move for charter change, it added.*