Retrieve, protect Cha-cha signature pages, Comelec urges proponents

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia (INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) advised proponents of the signature drive for a people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution on Wednesday to retrieve the signature pages they had submitted to the poll body’s offices to prevent it from getting lost or damaged.

“Kung ako po ‘yung proponent, kunin niyo na po muna sa Comelec ‘yung inyong mga napa-receive sa amin upang mas maalagaan niyo po at maprotektahan ‘yang mga dokumentong ‘yan,” Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said in an ambush interview.

(If I am the proponent, please retrieve from Comelec the documents you submitted to us so that you can take better care of and protect those documents in the meantime.)

“Ang liit ng mga opisina ng Comelec, mahirap po kasi baka mawala ‘yung mga dokumentong ‘yan, mabasa kapag umuulan,” he added.

(The Comelec offices are small, and it’s challenging because those documents might get lost or damaged when it rains.)

Garcia, however, said the poll body that the poll body will ensure the safety of the documents until the proponents decide to retrieve them.

Meanwhile, Garcia reiterated that the Comelec welcomes any investigation regarding the additional P12 billion budget that it received for its 2024 budget.

He also noted that the fund is not intended to campaign for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution.

“Di po ‘yan sa kahit anong plebisito sapagkat ‘yan po ay parte ng aming mga hinihingi. Katulad na po ng budget para sa Education and Information Department namin, sa amin pong preparasyon para sa national and local elections, at kasama na rin po yung pagbili ng mga IT equipment at pagpapagawa ng ilang Comelec local offices po namin,” Garcia explained.

(It is not for any plebiscite because they are part of what we are requesting. This includes the budget for our Education and Information Department, our preparation for national and local elections, as well as the purchase of IT equipment and the construction of some of our Comelec local offices.)