Statement of Comelec on Possibility of Conducting Snap Election in PH
COMELEC – Commission on Elections chairperson George Garcia spoke on the snap election recently proposed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had a change of leadership amid the flood control mess in the Philippines. The leaders of both legislative chambers are tagged in the issue. After admitting that he received a P30-million campaign donation from a flood control contractor, Sen. Chiz Escudero is also accused of allegedly receiving a P160-million kickback from the flood control projects. The accusation was made by a former undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Escudero denied the allegations. He also claimed that the person who is allegedly behind the flood control corruption accusations against the senators is former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Aside from Sen. Chiz Escudero, senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva are also accused of flood control corruption. Amid the issue, presidential cousin and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House Speaker. He was tagged by controversial contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya into the issue of alleged flood control corruption.
Aside from Romualdez and the senators, resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co and some congressman are aso accused of allegedly receiving kickback from the flood control projects. Recently. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano floated the idea about the resignation of government officials.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano believes that the resignation of the government officials can pave the way for a clean slate to begin with for the Filipino people. His proposal includes the president, the vice president, the senators, and all the members of the House of Representatives.
However, based on a report on GMA News, the Commission on Elections clarified that they cannot conduct a snap election without a law mandating it. Comelec commission George Garcia stressed that the poll body is just an implementer of what is stated in the rules.
“Sa part ng Comelec, hindi kami makakapag-conduct ng elections o special elections nang walang batas. Kinakailangan may mandato ng batas sapagkat ang katungkulan ni Comelec ay tagapagpatupad ng isang batas sa halalan,” Garcia said.
According to the Comelec Chairman, the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides fixed term limits for the officials of the government. He also stressed that in cases of permanent disability, removal from office, resignation, or death of a high-ranking government official, the rule of success will apply.
Based on the report, Commissioner George Garcia stressed that a snap election best suits a parliamentary type of government. According to him, once there is a declaration of a loss of confidence on a parliamentary government, they immediately conduct a snap election.
Amid the flood control corruption in the Philippines which is supposedly billions. director Lino Cayetano showed support to the proposal of his brother, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, of a snap election for the Filipino people to have a clean slate.