Comelec Chairperson George Garcia revealed that the en banc decision was unanimous after the body voted for the suspension of Comelec Resolution No. 10650 that contains guidelines for the PI.

Included in the suspension decision is the acceptance of signature sheets by the local Comelec offices. This will remain pending until the poll body has completed its review and revision of the guidelines.

“We honestly believe base sa aming initial assessment, kailangan naming i-review, i-enhance, dagdagan iyong aming existing IRR or implementing rules and regulations concerning the People’s Initiative dahil sa ating palagay may mga bagay doon na kulang at wala doon sa ating guidelines,” explained Garcia.

Reacting to the Comelec decision, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the poll body has all the authority to direct its local election officers to stop receiving signature sheets on PI.

“Pending the filing with the COMELEC of the prerequisite petition for PI, the Comelec has no jurisdiction yet to proceed on the matter, including the acceptance and validation of PI signatures,” Lagman said in a statement.

He explained: “More importantly, there is no compliant implementing law to govern PI insofar as the Constitution is sought to be amended as held in Santiago v. Comelec, a ruling of the Supreme Court which has not been abandoned squarely in the main decision in Lambino v. Comelec.”

The veteran opposition lawmaker said the PI bid has been suspected to have been initiated in the Lower House and “is designed to marginalize the Senators in a joint voting by the constituent assembly due to the numerical superiority of the Representatives.”

“On the other hand, the Senate objects to joint voting in the constituent assembly because it would be outvoted by the Representatives and the constituent assembly voting jointly can even propose to abolish the Senate,” he said.