By Miriam P. Aquino

San Fernando City, La Union (10 October) -- Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye challenged all oppositionists/critics of Charter Change that if they are confident that their arguments would be upheld by the people, then there is no reason why they should refuse to put it to a test.

The 6.3 million signatures supporting the people’s initiative to amend the constitution is now pronounced as legitimate and duly verified by local election officers to have complied with all the necessary prerequisites thereby making it transparent and fair.

This is what comes out after a fully scrutinized political process, under an atmosphere of political debate, was proven to have been verified by city and municipal registrars of Comelec.

Sigaw ng Bayan Spokesman Attorney Raul Lambino and Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado, leader of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines filed the petition and complied to the directives of the High Tribunal by submitting 195 boxes of signature sheets with names and verified signatures of petiotioners in 213 congressional districts and in 15 days, they will be submitting their summarized arguments and clarificatory statements, reports said.

La Union Provincial Governor Victor F. Ortega said in a statement that those who question the legitimacy of the people’s initiative in view of supposed discrepancies, should have raised their reactions earlier when the verification process which was conducted by local election officers was ongoing because this is the proper venue for such complaints.

Now, it is up to the Supreme Court to decide, and Malacañang wants the true voice of the people to be heard and should let the process take its constitutional course.

It is the interest of the people/nation that lies in whatever decision the higher court would come up to and not the individual interest/motives of political entities and radical groups.