BACOLOD City – The Commission on Elections (Comeled) in Negros Occidental confirmed on Thursday morning, Jan. 18, they have received more than 157,000 signatures pushing for people’s initiative.
Bacolod City has the highest number of gathered signatures at 69,098, based on data released by Comelec-Negros Occidental elections supervisor, Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria.
Bacolod City Comelec officer Kathrina Caña-Trinio said the proponent of the initiative in the locality is Atty. Anthony Abad.
The remaining signatures came from Sagay City with 15,052, Calatrava (11,726), Escalante City (11,458), San Carlos City (10,811), Sipalay City (10,210), Bago City (7,725), Manapla (6,205), Silay City (5,904), Talisay City (4,9270, and Murcia (4,529).
On the other hand, Ananoria explained the process wherein Comelec only provides certification regarding the signatures for their monitoring.
He further pointed out that the group initiating the people’s initiative, or the proponent, is responsible for the processes involved in the mentioned documents.
Earlier on Wednesday, Jan. 17, the Comelec central office said their local offices across 400 towns and cities nationwide have begun receiving signature sheets and forms calling for a people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution.
In a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Comelec chairman George Garcia said it can’t be determined yet how many legislative districts cover the 400 towns and cities.
“We will just receive what was submitted to us. It’s prescribed under our guidelines. We don’t have a choice but to receive them,” Garcia said.
He said the reported number of received documents do not yet include signature sheets submitted to the wrong local Comelec offices, such as the offices of the provincial election supervisors.
The signature sheets were accompanied by a Comelec form containing a declaration on the number of signatures collected.
Under Comelec rules, the local election officers will only count the signatures, but will not yet verify whether they are genuine or not, or if they represent registered voters.
Garcia added that after issuing a certification on the number of signatures to the proponent and sending a copy to the Comelec clerk, the sheets will be in the custody of the local election offices until the Comelec en banc orders their verification. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
