Commission on Election provincial supervisor, lawyer Manuel Advincula, clarified that a peoples' initiative is a direct action of the people on issues affecting the country, such as changing the constitution.

This is however, usually initiated in a recall election. The poll body will then set a date for a plebiscite, he said.

Advincula, who is also the regional chairman of the poll body, stressed that a peoples' initiative should gather 12 percent of the entire voting population before it can be submitted to the Comelec.

But on how the signatures will be gathered, Advincula said he does not want to speculate, although he said this can be taken during the barangay assembly upon the initiative of the people.

Advincula said he believes the people must fully understand the issues before amending the Constitution.

For his part, he said there's going to be elections in May 2007 and he would prefer if a plebiscite is included during the brangay elections in October 2007.*JG

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