Comelec taking so long to act on ‘best solution’

Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP) has always been consistent with its stand against political dynasty. But in my view, it seems that its efforts are being brushed aside.

Recently, Commission on Elections Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. said, “We can only administer what is provided by law. A people’s initiative is the best… real solution to that problem so that it would no longer have to pass through Congress” (Comelec bats for ‘people’s initiative’ to stop political dynasties,” Inquirer, 10/22/12).

We at AKP would like to inform all concerned, especially our countrymen, that there is a long-pending request by our party  for the Comelec to prescribe the form of a petition for a people’s initiative on national statute, as mandated by Republic Act 6735 or the Initiative and Referendum Act.

For the record, on April 26, 2012, AKP, through our party president JC de los Reyes, wrote Comelec’s Law Department seeking its comments and/or approval on the form of a petition for a people’s initiative on an Anti-Dynasty Act.

Two months after, or June 29 to be exact, the Law Department in part replied, “considering that the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Operations (ODEDO) has already rendered an opinion (dissenting) on this matter, we are adopting their opinion and Comelec En banc Minute Resolution No. 97-0355 dated February 12, 1997, refraining this Department from issuing opinion in deference to interoffice courtesy, and on matters or issues that will be raised later on the commission for resolution/decision.” The crux of the matter is that a prescribed form has yet to be approved by the Commission En Banc.

On July 26, AKP wrote the Law Department again, copy furnished the Comelec chair and commissioners, saying that the Comelec En Banc is simply duty-bound to pass a prescribed form as mandated by RA 6735.

Our party received on Aug. 6 the concluding reply of the Law Department saying that it is “already in the process of drafting the prescribed form for a Petition on Initiative on National Statutes… to be submitted to the Comelec En Banc for its consideration and approval.”

Nearly three months from that last communication by the Law Department and some six months since we first wrote the commission on this matter, we still await and have yet to be furnished a copy of the prescribed form approved by the Comelec En Banc.

What takes the Comelec so long to act on this AKP request?

—REGINALD B. TAMAYO,

member, National Executive Board,

Ang Kapatiran Party