SC says plebiscite can be held alongside an election – Angara

Senator Sonny Angara (File photo from Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sonny Angara on Thursday maintained conducting a plebiscite alongside an election is allowed and the question on these political exercises has been settled before.

Angara made his remarks after Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia pronounced that the poll body could hold a Charter change (Cha-cha) plebiscite in 2025.

Garcia said the earliest possible year for a plebiscite would be 2026.

He cited the Occena vs. Comelec case in the Supreme Court.

However, Angara believes his proposal has long been settled by the Supreme Court.

He also said the government could save millions of money if the plebiscite would be held during the 2025 polls.

“I am not really sure what is the legal basis of Comelec chair Garcia for saying that because the leading case there in the plebiscite is Occena vs. Comelec,” Angara said, partly in Filipino, at the “Kapihan sa Senado” public forum.

“That is a 1981 case decided by the Supreme Court, and the decision was that a plebiscite can be simultaneously held with an election,” he recalled.

According to Angara, the only limit is that the Constitution states the plebiscite should be conducted 60 to 90 days from the time of approval of the proposed amendments.

“So, the plebiscite must be held 60 to 90 days after the amendments are approved. That’s why I say it’s better later, but definitely by October,” he pointed out.

“October is a practical deadline because if we don’t pass it before October, Comelec won’t be able to print it in the ballot.”

Later in the forum, Angara said that his declaration that October would a practical deadline for all the economic Cha-cha debates would not entail that Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 should clinch the approval of the Senate.

“It’s not an assurance because how can I speak for 23 senators?” he asked.

“I can only speak for Senator Sonny Angara, maybe Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senate Pro Tempore Loren Legarda because we filed the resolution so we will stand by our resolution,” he said.

“But we cannot assure that our colleagues will not amend it because that’s part of the process of legislation,” the senator added, partly in Filipino.