‘Don’t sign!’: Palawan bishop tells faithful to reject ‘People’s Initiative’

MANILA, Philippines — A Catholic bishop urged the faithful to reject a signature campaign for Charter change through people’s initiative.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay in northern Palawan province made the call amid allegations of payouts in exchange for signatures, which organizers have vehemently denied.

“May offer pa nga na magbayad para pupirma ang mga tao, baka gamitin ang madaliang pagpapatawag ng Barangay Assembly para dito,” Pabillo said in a statement posted on his Facebook account on Thursday.

(There is even an offer of payment in exchange for people’s signatures. They may even use this to call for a Barangay Assembly for this.)

“Sabihin sa mga tao na huwag pumirma! Hindi ito inisyatiba na galing sa mga tao kundi ng ilang mga politico,” he added.

(Tell people not to sign! This is not an initiative from the people but from some politicians.)

READ: Pirma is back: Charter change drive on air, on ground

However, People’s Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action (Pirma) National Convenor Noel Oñate on Thursday denied allegations of buying the signatures, calling it “ridiculous.”

Pirma needs to collect more than 8 million signatures, equivalent to 12 percent of the country’s registered voting population, to fortify its Cha-cha petition, according to Oñate.

Oñate further said that Pirma is a private group as he further denied that his group is “dangling” government cash aid in exchange for signatures.

READ: Cha-cha not a shortcut