Ausan, Treñas belittle I-March petition
Commission on Election (Comelec) Regional Director Atty. Dennis Ausan and Mayor Jerry Treñas laughed off the civil suit filed by anti-charter change group Ilonggo Movement against Gloria's Cha-cha (I-March) before the Iloilo Regional Trial Court.
Aside from Ausan and Treñas, City Election Officer Elizabeth Doronila was also named respondent in the complaint. The complaint was in relation to the verification of signatures, gathered during the recent nationwide barangay assembly, for a people's initiative to change the Constitution.
Ausan maintained there is no legal impediment relative to the signature verification. He said it is the official stand of the entire commission. He is in quandary why he was included in the petition filed by I-March.
The I-March, in their petition urged the RTC to stop the verification if it is ongoing or stop issuance of certification if the verification is already finished or declare the verification as null and void as the Supreme Court has decided in Defensor-Santiago vs Comelec (G.R. No. 1237325 dated March 19, 1997).
The same SC ruling states that the Comelec should be permanently enjoined from entertaining or taking cognizance of any petition for initiative on amendments on the Constitution until a sufficient law shall have been validly enacted to provide for the implementation of the system.
Meanwhile, Treñas said there is nothing wrong on their move to submit the signatures for verification by the Comelec. He said there is a need for the Comelec to verify the signatures as there might be faked signatures.
In Iloilo City, barangay leaders spearheaded the signature campaign. They were asked to have a quota of at least 300 signatures per barangay. Some signatories even claimed they were bribed just to sign. Others took the opportunity to sign twice because of the goodies offered to them. The signature campaign is the initial step towards charter change.
The chief executive added that he is unfazed by the charges as he is already used in such kinds of problems. He considered the filing of the case as "politically motivated."
The I-March is composed of lawyers Romeo Gerochi, former Councilor Joshua Alim, Daniel Cartagena and Leo Sombiro. Two other female activists composed the group.