Solon wants probe on alleged signature buying in latest Cha-cha campaign

A lawmaker has called for a probe on the ongoing Charter change signature campaign in the country, citing instances of supposed signature buying as these were done alongside the distribution of government aid and gifts.

Under House Resolution 1541, House deputy minority leader and ACT Teachers party-list representative France Castro and the Makabayan bloc pushed for a probe on the ongoing people’s initiative for Charter change.

The resolution said there were reports of signature buying in areas such as Barangay Silangan, San Mateo, Rizal; Barangay Pinyahan, District 4 and Barangay Kalusugan in Quezon City; Caloocan; Valenzuela; and Gerona, Tarlac during the holiday season.

“Ang ilan ay pinangakuan ng ayuda, at iba naman ay isinabay ang pagpapa-pirma sa gift giving noong kapaskuhan. May report din na pati mga PWD (persons were disability) ay nililinlang para papirmahin sa Cha-cha,” she said.

“Ano mang tangi ng mga nagsusulong ng Cha-cha ay hindi rin natin masisisi ang ating mga kababayan na isipin na maaaring pondo ng bayan ang ginamit dito lalo pa at may bagong tulak ang administrasyong Marcos para baguhin ang Konstitusyon at mukhang koordinado at may timeline na sinusunod ang kanilang ginagawa,” she added.

(Some were promised aid, while others were asked to sign while being given gifts during the Christmas season. There were also reports of PWDs that were deceived so they would sign for Cha-cha.

Despite the denials, we cannot blame our countrymen for thinking that the push for Cha-cha could be financed by public funds, especially with the push of the Marcos administration to amend the Constitution. It also looks coordinated as they are following a timeline.)

Opposition lawmakers last week accused public officials of buying signatures and deceiving people into signing documents that allegedly portray that there is public clamor to make certain changes to the 1987 Constitution.

To recall, House speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez last year said 2024 is the right time to push for Charter change, as he called on local officials to back such proposals. His cousin, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier expressed support for such a move, saying amendments to the 1987 Constitution should focus on attracting more investors to the country.—RF, GMA Integrated News