Palace: No-elec only possible with constitutional amendment

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

In the light of various standpoint on possible no election scenario attached to the possible enactment of the proposed federal form of government, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday indicated that it will only happen if the Congress would amend a new constitution and the people would ratify it before the polls.

“As I said, if they are able to amend the Constitution and have the people ratify it before 2019, that’s the only possibility of the postponement of the elections,” Roque said.

“But unless the Constitution is actually ratified by the people and the President calling for the transitory provisions, the elections will push through,” he added.

The Spokesperson said that President Rodrigo Duterte discussed the matter in a cabinet meeting, but the President reiterated that he is against the suspension of the 2019 mid-term election.

“He (Duterte) reiterated he is against no-el,” Roque said.

“He wants to push through with the elections in 2019 and has committed to give us the most honest and the most credible elections in 2019,” Roque added.

It was Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who first hinted the possible suspension of mid-term election in 2019 if the government would shift to federalism.

VP  no to “no elec”

Earlier, Vice President Leni Robredo expressed strong opposition to the possible suspension of 2019 mid-term election and extension of the term of incumbent officials.

[Robredo: Suspension of 2019 elections would undermine democracy]

Robredo took a firm stand against the possible cancellation of the elections, emphasizing that it would undermine democracy.

“This no elections, we are strongly against to no elections. An election is the summarized our democracy wherein it is the only way for an ordinary Filipino to choose his leader,” Robredo said during her weekly radio show, BISErsbisyong LENI.