SC allows holding of plebiscite alongside an election, says Angara | Inquirer News
Source: Inquirer.net
Author: Charie Abarca
MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Sonny Angara on Thursday maintained conducting a plebiscite alongside an election is allowed and the question on these political exercises has been settled before.
Angara's remarks comes after Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia's pronouncement that the poll body cannot hold a Charter change (Cha-cha) plebiscite in 2025.
Garcia said the earliest possible year for a plebiscite is 2026.
He cited Occena vs. Comelec case of Supreme Court.
However, Angara believes his proposal has long been settled by Supreme Court.
He also said government can save millions of money if the plebiscite is held during the 2025 polls.
"Hindi ko nga sure ano 'yung legal basis ni Comelec chair Garcia for saying that kasi ang leading case dyan sa plebiscite is Occena vs. Comelec," said Angara at the Kapihan sa Senado public forum.
(I am not really sure what is the legal basis of Comelec chair Garcia for saying that, because the leading case there in the plebiscite is Occena vs. Comelec.)
"That is a 1981 case decided by the Supreme Court at doon, ang desisyon ay pwedeng isabay ang plebisito sa eleksyon," he recalled.
(That is a 1981 case decided by Supreme Court and there, the decision was that a plebiscite can be simultaneously held with an election.)
According to Angara, the only limit is that Constitution states the plebiscite should be conducted 60 to 90 days from the time of approval of the proposed amendments.
"So, the plebiscite must be held 60 to 90 days from the amendments are approved. Kaya nga sinasabi ko, mas maganda later, pero definitely by October," he pointed out.
(So, the plebiscite must be held 60 to 90 days after the amendments are approved. That's why I say, it's better later, but definitely by October.)
"Yung October, practical deadline 'yun kasi kung hindi natin ipinasa bago ang Oktubre, e di hindi maisasama ng Comelec sa pag imprenta ng balota," he explained.
(October is a practical deadline, because if we don't pass it before October, Comelec won't be able to print it in the ballot.)
Later in the forum, Angara said that his declaration that October is a practical deadline for all the economic Cha-cha debates does not entail that Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 will clinch the approval of Senate.
"It's not an assurance because how can I speak for 23 senators?' he asked.
"I can only speak for Senator Sonny Angara, maybe Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senate Pro Tempore Loren Legarda because we filed the resolution so we will stand by our resolution," he said.
"But we cannot assure that our colleagues will not amend it because that's part of the process of legislation," the senator added, partly in Filipino.