Garcia: Those who want to withdraw Cha-cha signatures may go to local Comelec offices

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said that registered voters who wish to withdraw their signatures for the people’s initiative to push for Charter change may simply proceed to their local offices even without a written statement on hand.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said that those who want to back down will not be questioned as to why they want to do so as long as it is voluntary and they were not coerced.

“Nung pumirma nga sila, hindi naman natin tinanong bakit sila pumirma. So sa pagwi-withdraw, so long as ito’y voluntary at hindi sila pinilit, hindi sila tinakot, ‘yan ay papayagan naman natin,” he said.

(When they signed, we didn't ask why they signed. So with their withdrawal, as long as it is voluntary and they were not forced nor threatened, we will allow them to do so.)

“Kahit nga walang affidavit, kung pupunta lang sila sa local Comelec natin at magpapakilala, tutal may record naman kami at nandoon halimbawa ang pangalan talaga nila na may lagda doon sa signature forms, ‘yan ay papayagan natin ang withdrawal,” he added.

(Even if they don’t have an affidavit, they could just go to our local Comelec and introduce themselves. After all, we have a record and we could check it from the signature forms if they really have their names there.)

Atty. Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna on Sunday posted on social media sample affidavits of withdrawal of signatures for registered voters who have changed their minds about the people’s initiative to revise the 1987 Constitution.

The form stated: “It is my intention, by filing of this Affidavit of Withdrawal, to WITHDRAW my signature, therefrom, and hereby inform the COMELEC to consider my signature withdrawn from the same.”

Garcia said that even though the Comelec has no jurisdiction yet over the signatures sent from various municipalities and cities across the country, the poll body has not yet received any reports of signatories withdrawing.

“Sa kasalukuyan hanggang noong Biyernes, wala pa tayong natatanggap sa anumang bahagi ng bansa na kung saan nakapangalap ng mga lagda na gusto mag-withdraw. Sabi nga natin, maganda ang ganyan kung saka sakaling meron at least mae-entertain ‘yan ng Comelec,” he said.

(As of Friday, we have not received withdrawals from signatories across the country. It would be good if there is any as the Comelec would entertain it.)

The Comelec has so far received signature forms for the ongoing people's initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution from a total of 1,072 municipalities and cities as of January 26, 2024.

Garcia said that this number is not yet enough for the people’s initiative.

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."

Once the required number of signatures is met, proponents of the people's initiative need to file their petition with the Comelec. The poll body will then scrutinize and verify all of the signatures.

After the Comelec verifies that the signatures are authentic and comply with the required tallies for a people's initiative, it will schedule a national plebiscite or referendum where the people will vote on the petitioners' proposed constitutional amendments. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News