Lambino Vs.

Comelec
G.R. No. 174153
Oct. 25 2006
I. Facts:
Petitioners (Lambino group) commenced gathering signatures for an initiative petition to
change the 1987 Constitution, they filed a petition with the COMELEC to hold a plebiscite
that will ratify their initiative petition under RA 6735. Lambino group alleged that the
petition had the support of 6M individuals fulfilling what was provided by art 17 of the
constitution. Their petition changes the 1987 constitution by modifying sections 1-7 of Art
6 and sections 1-4 of Art 7 and by adding Art 18. the proposed changes will shift the
present bicameral- presidential form of government to unicameral- parliamentary.
COMELEC denied the petition.
II. Issue:
Whether or Not the Lambino Group’s initiative petition complies with Section 2, Article
XVII of the Constitution on amendments to the Constitution through a people’s initiative.
III. Ruling:
No. According to the SC the Lambino group failed to comply with the basic requirements
for conducting a people’s initiative. The petitioners failed to show the court that the
initiative signer must be informed at the time of the signing of the nature and effect, failure
to do so is “deceptive and misleading” which renders the initiative void.

The Court also held that the COMELEC did not grave abuse of discretion on dismissing the
Lambino petition.