Senators reject Alvarez’s ‘no-election’ proposal

Senators from the majority and minority blocs yesterday expressed opposition to a proposal by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to begin a people’s initiative to postpone the 2019 midterm elections and amend the 1987 constitution without involving the senate.

The senators insisted that the speaker’s move was not only self-serving, but also a waste of government resources.

While people’s initiative, or a nationwide signature campaign, is an alternative mode of revising or amending the charter, the exercise still needs the participation of the senate, as stated in the 1987 constitution, senator Panfilo Lacson said.

Lacson cited Section 2, Article XVII of the constitution, which allows the direct participation of the people through a petition of at least 12% of the number of registered voters, with every legislative district represented by at least 3% of registered voters.

Lacson said that under the provision, the congress shall provide for the implementation of the exercise.

“It goes without saying, a majority of the senators, even those running for re-election, will fight tooth and nail any attempt to cancel the 2019 midterm elections, simply because it is wrong and self-serving,” he added.

Alvarez’s party mate, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan president, senator Aquilino Pimentel, has expressed reservations on the no-election proposal. “That is too cumbersome a procedure, hence time consuming. There is also the question of whether a law is in place that sufficiently implements people’s initiative,” Pimentel added.

Alvarez nonetheless is in a position to lead such an initiative because the procedure involves all legislative districts, which is the basis of the membership of the House of Representatives, he said.

Senator Francis Escudero said he did not know why Alvarez seemed to be so obsessed with charter change and postponing the election despite the lack of people’s support.

A recent Pulse Asia survey showed that two in every three Filipinos or 67% were opposed to charter change, and 62% were not in favour of federalism.

In a radio interview, Alvarez said the 2019 polls, which involve the election of 12 senators and local government officials nationwide, should be postponed before October so that the charter change could proceed in congress.

“Elections should be postponed before the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) (in first week of October). Otherwise, it would be tough to postpone polls once the COC is filed,” Alvarez said in a radio interview.

Alvarez added that since the senate was not in favour of postponing the 2019 polls, the people could still push for it through people’s initiative or a signature campaign subject to a referendum.

“We can’ take shortcuts here. If the senate is against it, then the people can seek postponement of elections. If they really believe that change is in order, there are provisions for people’s initiative,” Alvarez said.