Simplify withdrawal of signatures from Cha-cha drive – Villanueva

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said on Thursday that there should be a less complicated method to withdraw one’s signature from the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution.

“Hindi naman po ito relasyon pero bakit parang it’s complicated ang withdrawal form na ito? Bagamat welcome development po ang mga aksyon ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) kaugnay nitong pekeng people’s initiative, panawagan po natin na huwag nang pahirapan ang ating mga kababayan sa pagbawi ng kanilang pirma,” said Villanueva.

(This is not a relationship, but why does it seem so complicated? Although the actions of the Comelec in relation to this fake people’s initiative are a welcome development, we hope that our countrymen are not made to suffer any more in withdrawing their signatures.)

“Our countrymen who want to withdraw their signatures should not be asked for an explanation because it is their right. If the process of signing is simple, we should also simplify the process of revoking it,” he emphasized in Filipino

Villanueva’s remarks came after the Comelec announced that it had approved the “withdrawal form” that would allow Filipinos to take back their signatures submitted for Cha-cha.

The form, however, tasks the public to disclose their reason for taking back their signature, name, address, and other personal information.

This did not sit well with Villanueva who underscored the Supreme Court’s earlier pronouncement that there is “not enough law for a people’s initiative to amend the Constitution.”

‘No need to withdraw, just trash all signatures’

Senator Imee Marcos, in a separate interview on Friday, likewise expressed her disapproval of Comelec’s move, particularly calling it a mere “face-saving gesture.”

“Parang palibhasa maraming nagalit at parang niloko sila at parang may suhulan, maraming gustong mag-withdraw….Ano ba ‘yun, hindi ko nga maintindihan eh pampalubag loob lang yata,” Marcos said.

(It seems that many people got angry and it seems that they have been cheated and that there is a bribe, many people want to withdraw…. I don’t understand what that is; it may have been done just to appease them.)

Similar to what Villanueva pointed out, Marcos said the withdrawal of signatures should be as “easy as affixing the same.”

“Requiring an explanation certainly makes it more difficult for people to withdraw their signatures en masse. They were not asked for an explanation when they signed the people’s initiative sheets; why would they be asked to explain themselves if they decide to withdraw their signatures?” she asked.

For her part, Marcos said she thinks it would be better to trash all the signatures.

“Kinakailangan eh talagang ibasura muna nila, no need to withdraw your signature, itapon na lahat ng signature na nalikom at nakuha dahil sa suhol, sa panlilinlang, sa pambobola, at niloko lang ang taumbayan,” she emphasized.

(They really need to discard it first; no need to withdraw your signature. Throw away all the signatures that were collected due to bribery, deception, flattery, and cheating of the people.)