Opposition reject 'no-el' scenario
MANILA -- Opposition lawmakers reject the noelection scenario floated by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez supposedly to give priority to Charter change.
"The proposal of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to postpone the mid-term elections next year, justifying it as the most ‘practical thing to do’ to facilitate their planned shift to federalism, revealed the true self-serving character of the Duterte allies’ push for charter change," said Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao.
In a press conference on Wednesday, July 11, Alvarez said the tight schedule of the House of Representatives due to the upcoming bud- get deliberations and the preparations of congressmen who would run for the elections could slow down the proceedings on the proposed federal constitution.
With this, Alvarez suggested to delay the May mid-term polls so that Congress could prioritize the deliberations on Charter change.
Casilao said that the public should oppose any attempt by the administration to move the 2019 mid-term elections "ostensibly to extend the terms of incumbent elected officials using their ongoing push for charter change."
ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said there is no provision in the 1987 Constitution that allows incumbent officials to extend their terms.
"The Speaker's proposal is dead in the water since it's not possible to extend the term of incumbents under the Constitution," he said.
"However, the fact that he made the proposal is useful in that it reveals the self-interest motives of the advocates of Duterte's push for charter change. Pres. Duterte will be given dictatorial powers while incumbents get term extension," Tinio added.
Article 6 Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution, however, states that Congress can postpone the regular election of congressmen through legislation.
The said article states that: "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."
Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin, for his part, called the proposal of Alvarez "off tangent" and "misplaced."
"This assertion by Speaker Alvarez shows how detached the Duterte administration is to the real needs of our people," he said.
Villarin said that what the public, as survey reveals, want the government to do is to "control inflation, increase wages, generate jobs, reduce poverty, fight graft a nd corruption, and stand up to China."