Legazpi City — In a round table discussion (RTD) on Friday, February 2 in Legazpi City covering various issues like Charter Change (Cha-Cha), People’s Initiative (PI), and the International Criminal Court (ICC), human rights lawyer and former lawmaker Atty. Neri Colmenares expressed concerns about the alleged deception surrounding the signature campaign for Cha-Cha.
News of the People’s Initiative campaign first broke in Bicol after Albay 1st district Representative Edcel Lagman issued a statement saying Ako Bicol Party-List was behind the organized campaign to gather the signature of at least three (3) percent per district across the country.
Colmenares said the high poverty rate in the Bicol region was the reason why many Bicolanos were deceived to sign in the said initiative.
“Bicol Region is known as among the poorest region in the country. Alam mo, inexploit nila ang kahirapan ng tao eh. Mahirap ang tao eh, pag ayuda na ‘yan. Kwento nila sa Sorsogon, sabi daw, gusto mo ayuda, pirma ka dyan e di pumirma, malay mo na cha-cha pala ‘yun. Akala nila signature ‘yun para nasa listahan ka ng ayuda”, said Colmenares.
While Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended receiving the signature sheets, Colmenares says the public should remain vigilant.
“Pwedeng i-lift ng senado yung suspension na’yan. Kung may lawyer ang pirma na pupunta sa korte para utusan, ipa mandamos ang Comelec na tanggapin yung pirma nila, may pakiramdam ako na mananalo diyan ang pirma eh. Kasi sasabihin talaga ng pirma diyan, nakalagay ang PI sa institution. Bakit di niyo tanggapin ang aming PI. Karapatan namin sa constitution and sa batas”, Colmenares laments.
He also warned against underestimating the initiative, citing its well-funded and well-organized nature.
“Noong January, I have to admit na-blitzkrieg talaga kami doon. Grabe ‘yun, di ko inexpect ganun kabilis. This is one of the dangerous Cha-Cha, why? It was well-funded., well-organized and the timing was great. I mean brilliant yung simulan mo sa January, ang mga tao galing sa pasko. Hindi pa naka-recover. Narinig ko from the sources kanina dito sa Bicol, gabi binigay bukas pinatapos na ang pirmahan, ganun raw ang instructions. Alas-9 daw ng gabi binigay sa Sorsogon. Tapos the next day, sabi tapusin niyo ‘yan so tinapos ng one day”, says him.
He stressed the importance of countering the initiative strategically, urging senators to prioritize the People’s Initiative battles at the district level.
Foreign Ownership of Philippine Media Outlets
The former lawmaker also expressed his reservations about the potential foreign ownership of major Philippine media outlets if charter change pushes through.
Colmenares emphasized the importance of distinguishing between media entities like international media organizations such as CNN, BBC, coming to the Philippines versus local outlets such as Inquirer, ABS-CBN, GMA7, TV5, PhilStar, and the like. He warned against foreign control of local outlets as this could influence the country’s electoral landscape and compromise media integrity.
Alliance Breakup
On the Duterte-Marcos alliance breakup, Colmenares believes the issue is not about the PI but the real motive behind the split was the looming threat of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Cha-cha was just the official reason but the main reason is nagduda talaga ang Duterte na dumating dito ang ICC at pinayagan talaga ng mga Marcos. So because of that nagbreak na. It’s not about Cha-cha, yung break na ‘to, it’s about ICC. For all the blaster of President Duterte, he is scared of the ICC despite his statement na “I’m ready to go to the prison,” “I’m ready to die” etc. He’s afraid and their worry is that if they’re going to be crippled, one of the ways to cripple them before 2028 is to have him arrested”, Colmenares adds.
This development he says, will give the opposition a better chance in the 2025 midterm elections and eventually in the 2029 presidential elections.
Bawi Pirma Affidavit
Bayan Muna and other opposition groups are supporting the “Bawi-Pirma” initiative. Colmenares emphasized the importance of providing an option for individuals who may feel deceived or coerced into supporting a cause and encourages those who wish to retract their support to do so.
“Ang purpose naman non is may option kayong pumili. Pangalawa, lahat ng pumirma, hindi natin sinasabi na masamang tao. Para sa akin, pag niloko sila, ordinaryong mamamayan ‘yon na niloko na dapat bigyan ng option. Di nila kasalanon yun e. So dapat lang na yung mga gustong bawiin yung pirma is iencourage kasi tama lang naman na bawiin nila dahil hindi naman bukal sa loob nila yung pag pirma at the first place. So sa lahat naman ng mga gustong tumulong sa pag facilitate nito – kasi di naman yun ganon kadali na mag affidavit ka of withdrawal, sana tulungan din yung mga mamamayang ordinaryo na makapirma’, Colmenares adds.
Among those who signed the PI was Diosdado Lacuenca, a 61-year-old farmer from Pioduran, Albay. HE says he signed the people’s initiative campaign last December without fully understanding its implications. Laquenca claims that barangay officials circulated the petition without explaining its contents, leading residents to sign without knowing the details.
“Ang pagkakaalam namin, ang sabi nila, “pumirma na kayo para sa ayuda”. Eh sino naman hindi pipirma doon dahil diba kailangan natin kahit kaunting tulong na nagmumula sa gobyerno. Interesado din kami kaya nagkataon na pumirma kami. Kalaunan, medyo syempre, usap-usapan sa bawat brgy hanggang nakarating sa bayan na yung pinirmahan pala namin ay illegal yon” Lacuenca narrates.
Lacuenca now is asking how they can take back their signatures from the said petition to which Colmenares says, they just need to file a notarized “Bawi Pirma” affidavit and submit the same to the Comelec.
While they may not be able to have a significant number on the signature recall that will affect the 3% submitted signature to the Comelec, Colmenares says by just having some withdrawal is already crucial and will reflect on the legality of the PI campaign.
