The Commission on Elections on Sunday said signatures gathered to push for Charter change will void the People’s Initiative campaign.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia, in a radio interview, said the money in exchange for people’s signatures to favor charter change may affect the petition for the People’s Initiative campaign, and the people found to be behind the scheme may also face anti-graft and malversation charges if they used public funds.

Garcia warned that using money to gain support for the petition could be used to invalidate the signatures gathered in the campaign.

“Puwede pong magamit kasi ‘yang mismong ebidensiya na si A, si B nakakuha ‘yan ng pera. At dahil nakuha niya ang pera, ‘yan ang naging dahilan kung bakit siya pumirma upang mapabalewala yung pirma ni A, ni B, ni C hanggang sinuman ‘yung magkakaroon ng ebidensya na tumanggap ng pera para pumirma dito sa petition na ito (You can use the evidence that A and B received money and affixed their signatures. And because they did get the money, that’s the reason their signatures will be invalidated),” he explained.

He added that constitutional amendments and even charter change can be done through a people’s initiative by lodging a petition signed by at least 12 percent of the total number of registered voters, which has to be verified by the Comelec.

At least 3 percent of registered voters must also represent each legislative district.

Getting the required number of signatures prompted some House of Representatives members to file a resolution for an investigation into bribery allegations.

Lawmakers pushing for charter change through People’s Initiative said it is necessary for economic provisions in the Constitution to attract more foreign investors.

Korean firm still has

to be evaluated

In another radio interview, Garcia said Sunday they would evaluate the accusations against South Korean firm Miru Systems Company Limited during the post-qualification process of bidding for the procurement of the new automated election system for the 2025 national and local elections.

Garcia said they could not automatically award the contract to Miru even if it is the lone bidder for the procurement project because it has to undergo a post-qualification evaluation by the Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee of the requirements set for the 2025 AES, and the verification of all submitted documents.

“Through this, we would know if the documents were fake or if Miru is capable of making machines. We will determine all that, especially the accusations and allegations circulating in social media,” he added.

Miru was earlier deemed eligible to proceed with the 2025 poll system procurement bidding after it complied with all the legal and financial requirements for the project.

“It’s good to inquire about all of that because if we can prove that Miru is lying, then it can be disqualified and, therefore, declare a failure of bidding,” he said.