Only 30% of required PI signatures collected, says PIRMA

The People's Initiative for Reform, Modernization and Action (PIRMA) said that they have only been able to collect 30% of the 8 million required signatures.

According to a 24 Oras report by Sandra Aguinaldo on Wednesday, PIRMA said that they are still confident that the 8 million requirement will be achieved within the next 2 to 3 months.

“So far, we have gathered around 30 percent of 8 million so about 2.5M signatures already. Sa nangyayari po ngayon ay mukhang kakayanin namin ang 12 percent or baka sobra pa,” said PIRMA national convenor Noel Oñate during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.”

(So far, we have gathered around 30% of 8 million, so about 2.5 million signatures already. With what is happening right now, it seems like we can achieve 12% or maybe even more.)

The figures are contrary to claims made by congressman Joey Salceda that the required number of signatures have been reached.

According to PIRMA, congressmen are not involved in their signature drives but admitted they have been coordinating with them in the collection of signatures in their respective districts.

Meanwhile, the collected signatures have been submitted and received by local Commission on Election (Comelec) offices.

According to the Comelec, 192 of 254 congressional districts and 1,032 of 1,634 cities and municipalities have been given certifications after the submission of signatures.

Other groups have questioned the poll body for issuing certifications despite not having received any petition for a people’s initiative.

“Napakaganda po kung makukuwestyon na nila [ang Korte Suprema] para magkaroon ng precedent, para sa susunod ma-guide po tayo. Ang trabaho po ng Comelec, hindi po kami  hihinto dito hangat hindi po kami pinapahinto sap[agkat tali po kami sa patakaran,” said Comelec chairperson Erwin Garcia.

 (It would be best to question [the Supreme Court] so we can have a precedent that can guide us as we move forward. That is the Comelec’s job. Unless we are told to stop, we are bound by the rules.)

“Kung may biglang mag ano sa kanilang guidelines or merong mag question sa PI, we are there to confront these legal challenges,” said PIRMA lawyer Attorney Evaristo Gana.

(If someone suddenly asks about their guidelines, someone questions the people’s initiative, we are there to confront these legal challenges)

Comelec said the signature campaign for Charter change will take a long time before it reaches the plebiscite and that timelines may be limited due to the 2025 elections.

“November [or] December, we cannot do the plebiscite. The entire year of 2025 we cannot do the plebiscite,” Garcia said. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News