The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to investigate allegations of “vote buying” related to a people’s initiative advocating for Charter change (Cha-cha) in the Philippines, as reported on Wednesday.

According to Comelec Chairman George Garcia, local Comelec offices will scrutinize the signatures collected once they are received from initiative proponents.

The people’s initiative, known as the “power of the people,” enables citizens to propose constitutional amendments by submitting a petition signed by at least 12 percent of registered voters.

Garcia emphasized the illegality of purchasing signatures for such initiatives, stating that if proven, the petition must be rejected as it implies the signatures were not voluntary.

In the event that Comelec verifies a people’s initiative for Cha-cha, Chairman Garcia estimated a budget of around P13 billion for a national plebiscite to gauge public support or rejection of the proposed constitutional amendment, One News reported.

Senator Imee Marcos called for a Senate inquiry into reported payoffs and misrepresentations, amounting to P20 million, during the signature campaign for the people’s initiative.

In pursuit of this investigation, Marcos submitted Senate Resolution 902, directing a committee to scrutinize the alleged irregularities. The resolution underscores lawmakers’ apprehensions about coordinators associated with a specific party-list group allegedly receiving funds to obtain signatures, PhilStar reported.

In the midst of these developments, both the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Health have refuted accusations suggesting the redirection of funds from government programs to support the people’s initiative.

Simultaneously, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has explicitly distanced itself from the initiative. Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos stressed that the DILG is expressly prohibited from engaging in or endorsing participation in such campaigns.

In La Union, reports suggest the utilization of barangay officials to gather signatures for a constitutional revision through a people’s initiative.

The campaign, initiated by La Union Representatives Paolo Ortega and Dante Garcia, commenced on January 10. Some residents, unaware of the campaign’s purpose, were reportedly obliged to sign, while others knowledgeable about Cha-cha and supportive of its revision willingly endorsed the petition.

Allegations of deceptive practices have surfaced, including instances where residents were misled into signing for Cha-cha under false pretenses, such as aid distribution or government support.

Fisher’s group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) reported officials urging residents to sign the petition without clear explanations of its purpose and benefits, according to PhilStar.