MANILA — The Commission on Elections cannot hold a plebiscite next year when two "big" elections will be conducted, its chairman George Garcia said Wednesday.

The public votes in a plebiscite as a culmination of efforts to amend or revise the constitution either through a People's Initiative, constitutional convention, or a constituent assembly.

Garcia told ANC that the high court previously ruled that the poll body "cannot include a plebiscite for the amendment of the constitution on a regular election."

The Comelec is gearing up for the May 2025 midterm elections and December barangay elections that same year.

Currently, there is a campaign to revise the constitution through the People's Initiative, which seeks to allow Congress to vote together on charter change proposals. The Comelec however stopped receiving signature forms related to that push to further study the mode and guidelines related to it.

The Senate meanwhile is tackling proposed amendments to "restrictive" economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution through Resolution of Both Houses No. 6. This could lead to a constituent assembly which is composed of the members of Congress.

"If in case the constituent assembly would be able to pass by this year or before the end of this year an amendment to a provision to the constitution, unfortunately … we cannot hold such plebiscite in 2025. The most that we can hold that is in 2026," Garcia said.

"You cannot squeeze a plebiscite in the middle of an election. Even prior to 2025, you cannot do that," he added.

Garcia said people should have "a clear mind" when voting and they cannot mix a plebiscite and a regular election during the same year.

"If it's an amendment, focus on the amendment. If it's elections, focus on the elections. Simply because you're not just amending a simple law. You're amending the constitution, the very heart of our democratic processes," he said.

Garcia said the Comelec would need P13 billion to pull off a single plebiscite.

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