BACOLOD City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental has halted the acceptance of signatures supporting the people’s initiative aimed at amending the 1987 Constitution.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said they have received instructions from the Comelec central office to preserve, seal and secure the collected signatures pending further review.
Comelec-Negros Occidental has so far gathered a total of 248,398 signatures from various towns and cities, including Bacolod City.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, meanwhile, expressed a cautious stance, awaiting further developments.
Lacson underscored the constitutional significance of people’s initiative but also acknowledged potential challenges.
“The issue here is charter change through people’s initiative. People’s initiative is constitutional. It seems that people’s initiative is not a viable process. Every time you go through a people’s initiative there is a counter that money is involved. Might as well take that option out. It’s either the constitutional convention or a constituent assembly,” Lacson said.
The governor also stated that he cannot comment on reports that local officials are behind the signature campaign for the people’s initiative. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
