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Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Seares: Chacha misstep
By Pachico A. Seares
News Sense
People suspect signatures in petitions and similar declarations.
Bar and brothel keepers brag that it is easy to get anyone to sign. And legislators and lobbyists agree.
In regular elections, voter signatures come with thumbprints, myriad forms, multiple boxes and locks, election boards, watchers. Still, no one rules out fraud, not even poll winners.
Signatures in a people’s initiative (PI) for charter change (chacha) don’t have that luxury of bodyguards.
PI is legally and fundamentally flawed. No enabling law, which means it can’t be validly done until Congress enacts one. Like dynasticism, which the Constitution prohibits, yet has flourished. The Constitution relies on Congress to enforce people’s initiative and ban on dynasties but doesn’t tell what can be done against a Congress lapse and omission.
Pressure on Senate
Maybe chacha advocates will just use PI results to pressure the Senate to shoot itself in the head.
But PI is vulnerable to attack. No mechanics, no independent supervision set by law.
How can it stand public or court scrutiny? Who checks regularity — Comelec? After Garci tapes, everything Comelec and ruling party do together gets a laugh.
Administration credibility now dwells in the cellar. Using a dubious process like people’s initiative will keep it there longer.
And in this chacha, misstep can lead to more than a fall on the floor.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 28, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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