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Comelec: Providing reason optional in PI signature withdrawal form
By GMA Integrated NewsThe Commission on Elections on Sunday clarified that providing a reason for withdrawing one’s signature on the people’s initiative withdrawal form is optional.
According to a 24 Oras Weekend report by Mav Gonzales, Comelec chairman George Garcia stated that the forms will still be accepted regardless of whether the reason for withdrawal was provided or not.Garcia made the clarification after senators questioned the said section of the form and said that it would just be a complicated process and a burden for the signatories.
"Hindi po dapat hingan pa ng paliwanag ang ating mga kababayan na nais bawiin ang kanilang mga pirma dahil karapatan po nila ito," said Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva.
(People should not be asked why they are withdrawing their signature because that is their right.)
Senator Nancy Binay said that the Comelec withdrawal forms signified that the Senate discussions on the people’s initiative were productive, while Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adiong said that the senate discussions could stop with the release of the form.
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(The Comelec en banc providing an avenue for any of those who signed their signatures, affixed their signatures in the petition to withdraw their signatures has already been released. All discussions regarding all initiatives connected with the PI has been suspended. So we don't see any reason why they have to continue on investigating,)
Meanwhile,Senator Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people's participation called to continue the discussions and probe into people who may have been involved in the use of government funds for the people’s initiative.
“Kailangan may managot. Sino ba pasimuno rito? Kung sinasabi may ginagamit na pondo ng pamahalaan, syempre may accountability yan,” Marcos said.
(Someone has to be held responsible. Who is behind this? If they’re saying that government funding is being used, there should be accountability)
As of Sunday, there were still no submissions of the withdrawal form.
The group BAYAN has also created their own version of the withdrawal form but ComelecOMELEC encouraged the public to make use of their version as it did not require notarization.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News