Sara hits exploitation of poor in Cha-cha signature campaign

The gathering of signatures in exchange for cash in connection with the people's initiative for Charter change continues in Davao City and other parts of the country, Vice President Sara Duterte said on Friday.

In a statement, Sara said the practice shows the propensity of politicians to buy votes during elections.

"Ito ay pagsasamantala sa kahirapan ng ating mga mamamayan at kawalan ng respeto sa kanilang karapatan na magdesisyon nang malaya, walang takot, o impluwensya gamit ang salapi," Sara said.

(This is an exploitation of the poverty of our citizens and shows a lack of respect for their right to make decisions freely, without fear, or being influenced with money.)

"Para sa mga Pilipino, alalahanin din natin na maaaring ang sukli sa suhol kapalit ng pirma sa people’s initiative ay may seryosong konsekwensiya sa ating buhay, kalayaan, at kinabukasan," she added.

(For Filipinos, let us remember that the exchange of bribes in exchange for signing the people's initiative has serious consequences on our lives, freedom, and future.)

Several lawmakers have reported that signatures are being gathered in the communities in exchange for cash. There are also reports that government subsidies are being used to entice voters to sign and support the people's initiative.

The Commission on Elections has been receiving from hundreds of municipalities and cities stacks of papers containing signatures in support of a people's inititaive to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Under the 1987 Constitution, amendments can be directly proposed by the people "through initiative upon a petition of at least 12% of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least 3% of the registered voters therein, a mode called people’s initiative."

“Our election officers are checking page by page to make sure that the tally on the number of signatures affixed is correct, so they are able to ensure that they issue the correct certification [on the number of signatures. Kindly give us until Friday to know how many cities and municipalities have submitted signature pages so far,” Comelec chairman George Garcia said.

In the signature pages Garcia said the voters were asked if they were in favor of amending Article 17, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution by allowing all members of Congress to jointly vote on proposed constitutional amendments in a constituent assembly.

The current Article 17 Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution does not explicitly provide whether members of the Senate and the House of Representatives should vote jointly or separately. —NB, GMA Integrated News