ALBAY 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman has raised concerns about a significant increase in the budget for the conduct of plebiscites and referendums. Lagman claims that the budget has ballooned by 700 percent due to an insertion made by the Bicameral Conference Committee under the budget of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
According to Lagman, the Comelec’s budget for the “conduct and supervision of elections, referenda, recall votes, and plebiscites” has reached P14 billion, a substantial increase from the previous allocation of P2 billion in 2023. This change was made during the Bicameral Conference Committee for the 2024 budget.
Lagman suggests that the significant increase in the budget may be linked to the planned people’s initiative, which aims to make changes to the 1987 Constitution through a plebiscite. He points out that the P14 billion allocated to this purpose is larger than the budgets of several important government departments, including the Departments of Migrant Workers, Trade and Industry, Agrarian Reform, Tourism, and Human Settlements and Human Development.
The proposed people’s initiative, which Lagman refers to as “a congressional initiative,” would allow for joint voting by representatives and senators, expediting the approval of proposed amendments to the Constitution. Lagman argues that the larger House of Representatives would have the numerical advantage over the senators, potentially influencing the outcome.
In addition to concerns about the budget increase, Lagman has made allegations that several mayors from the province of Albay were offered money to kick-start the signature campaign for the “people’s initiative.” He claims that a meeting was held on January 5, organized by the president of the League of Municipalities of Albay, Polangui Mayor Adrian Salceda, and attended by former Ako Bicol party-list representative Alfredo Garbin Jr.
Lagman asserts that some mayors were offered as much as P175,000 to pay for at least 3 percent of the voting population in their municipalities, at a rate of P100 per voter. The Initiative and Referendum Act stipulates that a people’s initiative can only proceed if it is signed by at least 12 percent of voters nationwide and at least 3 percent of voters in each legislative district.
While three mayors from Lagman’s district declined the offer, Garbin denies the accusations, labeling them as “wild and baseless.” Salceda, on the other hand, acknowledges that 15 out of 18 mayors have expressed support for the ongoing signature drive for the constitutional amendments. He denies Lagman’s claims of distributing “mobilization funds” during the meeting, dismissing them as false and ridiculous.
Lagman remains steadfast in his allegations, stating that he is in discussions with the three mayors and considering the possibility of filing criminal complaints under the Omnibus Election Code.
The controversy surrounding the increased budget for plebiscites and the alleged bribery attempts highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the democratic process. As the debate continues, it is crucial for all parties involved to address these concerns and ensure a fair and unbiased approach to any proposed changes to the Constitution.
Source: The Manila Times
