Filipino’s right to vote should be retained even if a shift of gov’t occurs, says Comelec

Amid growing speculations of the absence of elections next year due to the administration’s proposal to shift the system of government into a federal parliamentary, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that it should not take away the rights of the Filipinos to vote.

“The Comelec, however, remains confident that such shift—should it happen—can be accomplished without depriving the sovereign Filipino people of their constitutionally guaranteed right to select their own leaders through free and fair elections,” Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said as quoted by News5 Aksyon.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Wednesday that a no-election scenario in 2019 could happen once the government becomes federal.

However, some senators said that it is unlikely to happen.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said changing the system of government can happen without altering the schedule of elections next year.

Meanwhile, Sen. JV Ejercito said in a statement that it might be difficult to make people accept that there will be no elections.

Moreover, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said that it will be very difficult to revise the Constitution in just a few months before the midterm polls.

(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 01/ 04 / 18)