Sotto: ‘We can pass a law postponing’ polls

SENATE PRESIDENT Vicente C. Sotto III said on Thursday a law may be passed postponing the 2019 elections “if it was indeed necessary” to allow Congress more time to tackle amendments to the 1987 Constitution. Malacañang on the other hand assured the 2019 midterm elections will proceed as scheduled.

Mr. Sotto said in his press briefing on Thursday: “If we want ( charter change) to be done quickly, maybe ( postponing the midterm elections) is needed. We will have to see how it goes.... This is my opinion, this is not written in stone. If we call for a constituent assembly, we will need to pass a joint resolution calling for one, then we can decide if we can finish it by December or not and postpone elections. Then we can pass a law postponing elections.”

The Consultative Committee ( ConCom) on Thursday turned over its proposed federal constitution to the Senate. The Senate leader added: “Perhaps Speaker ( Pantaleon D. Alvarez) is thinking ( of ) postpon( ing) ( the elections) first then we can discuss ( charter change). For me, I’m saying let’s try to discuss if we can finish before the elections.”

Mr. Sotto earlier said the 1987 Constitution would have to be amended to allow a “noelection scenario” in 2019. Thereafter, he said Congress may pass legislation to postpone the polls.

According to Article 4, Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution, “unless otherwise provided by law, the regular election of the Senators and the Members of the House of Representatives shall be held on the second Monday of May.”

The Senate leader also said charter change is now a priority of the Senate when it resumes session on July 23, on top of deliberations on next year’s national budget ahead of the election campaign also next year.

“We will have to make time. The way I’m hearing from the Consultative Committee and the President, this is indeed a priority so we will have to take it up,” Mr. Sotto said.

Mr. Alvarez on Wednesday raised the possibility of postponing the 2019 midterm elections so the House of Representatives could focus on charter change, citing the expected lack of quorum in the plenary ahead of the election campaign period.

When sought for comment, Senate President and ConCom member Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. said opposed the “no- election scenario” in 2019.