No elections in 2019 possible, says Alvarez

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday hinted the possibility that no election will be held in 2019 if the government successfully transitions into a federal one.

In a television interview, Alvarez said that "anything is possible" as regards the scenario of no elections in 2019.

"I have to be frank about it. Anything is possible," he said.

"Let’s be practical. Kapag nag-shift ka into a different form of government – unitary to a federal – you need a transition government," he added.

Alvarez pointed out that if the public, voting in plebiscite, agrees with the proposed shift to federalism, the new federal Constitution might affect the expiration of the term of incumbent government officials.

He said the plebiscite may happen in May this year, during the scheduled barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Alvarez said the term of the government officials in the federal form of government will depend on the phrasing of the new federal constitution.

"Remember, 'yung senators kasi, 'yung termino nila, 12 for the first… hindi iyan sabay-sabay nag-e-expire. May mag-e-expire sa 2019, may mag-e-expire sa 2022," he said.

"In fairness, siguro mas maganda kapag pina-expire mo lahat sa 2022, para wala ka ng utang. So expired lahat ng terms," he added.

Alvarez said it is only "incidental" that incumbent elected officials would benefit from the possible postponement of the elections due to the shift of government.

"Ano ba naman sa amin 'yun? Walang problema 'yun. Mag-eleksyon tayo sa 2019. That’s not a problem," he said.

"Pero dapat tingnan natin dito na ano ba ang praktikal, ano ba ang objective dito? Magshi-shift ka into a federal form of government, magbabago 'yung istraktura ng gobyerno," he added.

The Duterte administration has been pushing for a shift to a federal form of government as a means to address issues particularly in strife-torn Mindanao.

Malacanang, however, on Wednesday said the 2019 midterm elections would not be canceled unless the Constitution is amended ahead of the schedule.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in a briefing said that President Rodrigo Duterte only relies on the Constitution on matters like this. —KG, GMA News