Question & AnswerQ&A (BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 643)
The act was enacted to submit to the Filipino people for ratification or rejection the amendments to the Constitution of the Philippines proposed by the Batasang Pambansa in its Sixth Regular Session, calling for a plebiscite for this purpose.
The plebiscite was scheduled to be held on January 27, 1984.
The amendments must be published at least once in at least three newspapers of nationwide circulation and once in at least one newspaper of provincial circulation determined by raffle. Printed copies must also be posted in every provincial capitol, municipal, city and barangay hall, and copies in principal dialects must be distributed to the electorate. The last publication should be no later than January 7, 1984.
COMELEC is empowered to promulgate rules and regulations to ensure widest dissemination of the amendments, prepare and print official ballots, order voter registration cleanup, conduct and supervise the plebiscite, canvass the results, and proclaim the results of the plebiscite.
Voters should write the word "Yes" or its equivalent in the blank space to approve, and "No" or its equivalent to reject. A checkmark or cross "x" mark is not considered a valid equivalent.
Members will be elected by different provinces with their cities, highly urbanized cities, and districts of Metropolitan Manila instead of by regions. Each political subdivision is entitled to at least one member and the total number of members corresponds to the 1935 Constitution provisions. The residence requirement for candidates is reduced from 1 year to 6 months.
The amendments propose abolishing the Executive Committee and creating the Office of the Vice-President with the same qualifications and term of office as the President. It includes provisions for succession before and after the 1987 election, limitations on the acting President's powers, and statutory succession rules.
Grant is recognized as an additional mode for the acquisition of lands belonging to the public domain, allowing agrarian reform programs to include the grant or distribution of alienable public lands to qualified tenants, farmers, and landless citizens.
In every voting center, the committee comprises three public school teachers (or private school teachers if insufficient public school teachers are available), with one designated as chairman. They receive a daily compensation and prepare and sign returns of the plebiscite results for their voting center.
Citizens' Election Committees prepare four copies of returns; one is deposited in the ballot box, and the others are forwarded to the election registrar and provincial or city election officers. Provincial or city boards of canvassers, consisting of election supervisors, fiscal, and education officials, prepare certificates of canvass. The Commission on Elections en banc canvasses and proclaims the final results.
Failure to post the complete list of voters at least five days before the plebiscite is considered a serious election offense and shall be penalized accordingly.
Expenses are charged to the appropriations of the Commission on Elections authorized in the General Appropriations Acts of 1983 and 1984, with possible augmentation from the Special Activities Fund if necessary.