Senators warn of ‘No-el’ as Pirma claims 2.5 million signatures collected

MANILA, Philippines — Proponents of a people’s initiative seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution said they had gathered 30 percent, or about 2.5 million of their target of over 8 million signatures, as senators warned that the petition might lead to “no elections” (No-el) being held in 2025 and 2028.

At a news forum on Wednesday, People’s Initiative for Reform, Modernization and Action (Pirma) national convener Noel Oñate said his group expected to finish collecting signatures by March or April to complete its campaign for Charter change (Cha-cha).

“Based on what’s happening now, it seems we will achieve the 12 percent and might even exceed it [because] on the average, we are collecting 15 percent [per district],” Oñate said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

The Constitution requires initiatives to amend it to be supported by a petition signed by 12 percent of all registered voters nationwide, with the support of at least 3 percent of the electorate from each legislative district.

A people’s initiative is one of three ways to introduce changes to the Charter; the other two are through a three-fourths vote by all members of Congress and via a constitutional convention, whose members are elected.

‘No-el’ specter

But Senate leaders raised the specter of a “No-el” scenario as a likely consequence of a successful people’s initiative, as it might pave the way for amendments to the political provisions of the Constitution, such as the lifting of term limits for incumbent officials.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said those behind the signature drive had been promising mayors and other local elected officials that their terms would be extended in exchange for their support.

“Mayors and even some governors admitted that to some of my colleagues,” Villanueva told the Inquirer.

In a manifesto unanimously signed by the senators on Tuesday, the Senate warned that the lifting of term limits and other political provisions might be included in “this singular and seemingly innocuous change in the Constitution.”

“[It] will open the floodgates to a wave of amendments and revisions that will erode the nation as we know it,” the senators said.

“With this change, the Senate is left powerless to stop even the most radical proposals: We cannot protect our lands from foreign ownership (and) … stop the removal of term limits, or a ‘no election scenario,’ in 2025, or worse, in 2028,” they warned.

‘We have momentum’

But Pirma’s leaders said there was no stopping the campaign with momentum on their side.“We will file [the initiative petition] as soon as we reached the minimum threshold that the law requires of us,” Pirma legal counsel Evaristo Gana told the same forum.

Asked how soon Pirma will be able to get the required number of signatures, Oñate replied: “I think within the next two to three months.”

This, he said, was based on the initial results of the campaign, which started on Jan. 2.

“It’s been three weeks and based on that momentum, we will be finished in a maximum of three months,” Oñate said, noting that only 70 out of the 254 legislative districts had yet to reach the 3-percent threshold.

Oñate lashed back at critics who alleged that the Pirma drive was not a true people’s initiative but a “politicians’ initiative.” He admitted, however, that it was true that his group’s volunteers had coordinated with House members to get voter statistics in their respective districts.

Gana, for his part, said those claiming bribery was used to induce voters to sign the petition should just file the appropriate charges.

Asked about calls to halt the initiative considering parallel moves in Congress, Gana replied: “That is another alternative. We cannot stop. We have the momentum [and] we’re gaining ground — it’s the people’s voice.”

Ministerial duty

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Garcia, also a guest at the forum, said the poll body would continue with its “ministerial duty” of receiving the signature forms as part of “due process” and in compliance with guidelines on such initiatives issued in 2020.

He said those questioning the process could go to the Supreme Court and challenge the guidelines set in Comelec Resolution No. 10650.

Once the Comelec formally receives the initiative petition and finds it sufficient in form and substance, the signatures will be verified by its local offices, he said.

If the petition is filed in April, the process in the Comelec — from the determination of sufficiency in form and substance to the verification of signatures—may be finished in five months, Garcia said. Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said the Senate-led Cha-cha effort, through the filing of Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, would have to be “sidelined” as the people’s initiative proponents had refused to stop their activities.

“It’s clear that the people’s initiative is not a genuine ‘people’s initiative,’” Angara, who was tasked to lead the Senate deliberations on the resolution, told the Inquirer.

Senate leaders filed the proposed resolution last week to prevent a political crisis between the two chambers and at the prodding of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.