Congressmen from the supermajority coalition have launched a campaign for charter change via people’s initiative.

Municipal mayors in Albay were notified of a general meeting on 05 January 2024 by the League of Mayors of the province with an undisclosed agenda. 

During the meeting, they were informed that people’s initiative will be used as a mode of amending the Constitution and they were given mobilization funds and the forms to be signed by at least three per centum of the registered voters of the legislative district to which their municipalities belong.

Voters who would sign the petition for people’s initiative will be given P100.00 each, 50% of which has already been advanced to the municipal mayors and respective coordinators.  

This movement is apparently nationwide as Congressmen belonging to various political parties have been sent the necessary forms. 

The Supreme Court in Santiago v. Comelec (G.R. No. 127325)  ruled that while the Constitution allows amendments to be directly proposed by the people through initiative, there is no compliant implementing law for the purpose and in Lambino v. Comelec (G.R. No. 174153) the Supreme Court denied the petition for people’s initiative for various fatal defects.

Disturbing questions have to be answered like: (1) who is the mastermind of this campaign; (2) what are the proposed amendments to be pursued; (3) where do the funds come from; and (4) why buy the voters’ initiative?

EDCEL C. LAGMAN