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THE idea of postponing the May 2022 national elections, in the hypothetical scenario that voters may be too afraid to go to the polls with the Covid-19 pandemic, has drawn criticism from polling stations. , election experts, senators, and a cabinet secretary.
First, the notion of postponing “is not a good sign that the government is doing its job to fight the Covid-19 pandemic,” veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said on Friday.
The call to postpone “runs counter to President Duterte’s assertion that the government is doing everything possible to address the pandemic and his call not to believe critics of the administration.
Duterte and his allies should be the first to assure our people that the 2022 elections will take place, ”he added.
Postponing the elections, raised Thursday by Pampanga Representative Mikey Arroyo, is illegal, lawmakers and election watchdogs said.
Foreign Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. even described any unwarranted postponement as an act of “treason” in a tweet Thursday.
Locsin, who was once a member of the House for three terms representing the city of Makati, had co-chaired the oversight committee for automated elections as a legislator.
For his part, Macalintal said on Friday: “Our law is very clear that elections can only be postponed in the event of violence, terrorism or destruction of electoral records that would make a fair and credible election impossible. Therefore, it is still very premature to think about the postponement of the elections about a year and a half before the elections. “
He suggested that the government closely watch the November 3 US presidential election despite the pandemic. He noted that “the United States is one of the most affected by the virus, with about 7 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 as of September 22. The Philippine government and its agencies can learn many lessons from the results of said American polls if voters and voting are ever affected by Covid-19. “
Atty, Comelec spokesperson. James Jiménez had also disapproved of the postponement idea, and former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal wryly noted that the people who flock to see the “white sands” of Manila Bay don’t seem to be the type to sit disturbed by the virus, especially since the elections are a distant 17 months.
Namfrel weighs
Meanwhile, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections on Friday stressed the importance of holding the 2022 elections as scheduled, as mandated by the Philippine Constitution, despite the pandemic.
Postponing elections violates the Constitution, contravenes the principle of regularity in conducting an election, extends the mandates of elected officials without being re-elected, and deprives the electorate of seeking the accountability of elected officials through the ballot, Namfrel said.
“While Congressman Arroyo’s concerns are reasonable, Comelec and other stakeholders are currently making preparations to ensure free, fair and secure elections in 2022,” Namfrel noted.
Drilon rejects ‘no-el’
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon vowed to oppose any plans to postpone the 2022 election.
“That’s part of an ongoing effort in a ‘not-him’ scenario. The postponement could be a prelude to the main goal of extending the terms of members of Congress and elected officials, ”Drilon said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Friday.
Drilon said Comelec cannot postpone a national election without changing the law.
“Comelec can only postpone an election in a political subdivision, that is, the provinces, cities or municipalities, according to the provisions of the Omnibus Electoral Code”, explained the former Secretary of Justice.
But even that, he emphasized, there must be a demonstration that there is a serious cause to postpone the election in a political subdivision such as “violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of paraphernalia or electoral records, force majeure and other analogous causes of such nature” that holding a free, orderly and honest election is impossible.
On a theoretical basis, Congress can pass a law to postpone the elections, he noted.
“But even if that kind of law is passed, it will not extend the terms of elected officials. She cannot postpone the election in the hope that her term can be extended. To extend the term, an amendment to the Constitution is needed, ”Drilon said.
“Therefore, if we are going to postpone the elections, it cannot be later than June 30, 2022, because by then we should have a new group of officials.”
“Given all these legal limitations, it will be absurd to postpone the elections. Comelec should be able to propose adaptation and mitigation measures. We will give Comelec sufficient funds to establish mitigation measures in the event that the pandemic continues until then ”, he said.
Kiko: 2-day vote
TO protect voters from Covid-19, Comelec may adopt other means to proceed with elections in 2022, such as a two-day voting period and larger voting areas that allow for physical distancing, Sen. Francis said Friday. “Kiko” Pangilinan.
Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Review of Codes and Laws, said canceling the elections is unconstitutional.
