- GILBERT BAYORAN
The Charter change signature campaign is seen to snowball in Negros Occidental as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) expects the submission of more signed petitions from the province’s 5th District.
The 5th District is composed of the municipalities of Hinigaran, Binalbagan, La Castellana, Isabela, Moises Padilla and Himamaylan City
As of Jan. 19, a total of 182,447 signatures have been gathered by the proponents from 15 local government units in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, pushing for amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said that they can only monitor the signature campaign as they await orders from the central office on what to do with the signed petitions submitted to them.
“If someone files a formal petition with the Commission that would be the time we can validate the signatures,” he added.
The other signatures came from Calatrava, Escalante City, San Carlos City in the 1st District; Manapla and Sagay City, 2nd District; Murcia, Silay City and Talisay City, 3rd District; Bago City, La Carlota City and Pontevedra, 4th District; and Cauayan, IIog and Sipalay City, 6th District.*GB
