The Commission on Elections’ release of withdrawal forms for persons who wish to take back their signatures in support of the People’s Initiative (PI) to amend the 1987 Constitution recognizes the fact that there are indeed Filipinos who felt deceived, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said on Friday, February 16.
“It’s a welcome thing that by issuing a withdrawal of signature form the Comelec recognizes the fact that there are indeed fellow Filipinos who felt deceived in signing something they were not fully informed of and therefore want their signature withdrawn,” he said.
However, given the climate of suspicion and mistrust that the PI process has generated, it’s also understandable that people who may want to withdraw will have fears of retaliation or unforeseen consequences for this decision, especially that they have to explain their reasons, Alminaza said.
Comelec should nullify or invalidate such means of changing the Constitution, he said.
“While this campaign of gathering these signatures was heavily funded by undisclosed donors, organized by a questionable and not legitimate group, the withdrawal is not and is burdensome to the poor voters who felt used or duped. This incident illustrates the misplaced priority of some leaders and a waste of private and public money that could have been better used for urgent social services,” Alminaza said.
Bacolod lawyer Cesar Beloria Jr., who has been campaigning for the withdrawal of signatures in support of what he has dubbed the “fake people’s initiative”, said they are happy with Comelec’s release of the withdrawal forms.
Beloria said he is coordinating with the offices of senators Joel Villanueva and Imee Marcos for a concerted centralized drive for the withdrawal of signatures.
In Mindanao there is already a massive withdrawal of signatures through Davao City, he said.
There were 248,398 signatures in support of the PI from Negros Occidental and Bacolod residents that were submitted to the COMELEC earlier, Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said.
“In addressing any discrepancies or challenges related to the signatures in the People’s Initiative, the withdrawal form by COMELEC is a significant step towards maintaining the credibility and fairness of the electoral process,” Beloria said.*