Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will not lead a people’s initiative signature drive to amend the 1987 Constitution.
“As an elected public official, I will not be actively leading these moves, but will wait for the plebiscite and cast my vote,” Lacson said on Sunday, January 14.
Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay, 1st District) earlier alleged that local executives have allegedly been tasked with carrying out a people’s initiative signature drive for Charter change that involves payment to each constituent who signs the petition.
Lacson said he has no idea of any public official leading the signature campaign in Negros Occidental.
The governor challenged those claiming that money is being paid to those who sign the petition to present their evidence.
“Come forward and present evidence to Comelec, or better still do not sign the petition if you are against it”, Lacson said.
The “people’s initiative is constitutional… Let it be a people’s initiative,” he said.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez last month said the lower house will focus on Charter change in 2024.
They will concentrate on the economic provisions of the Constitution to keep up with the changing times, he said.*