Robredo strongly against no-el, term extension

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said she is strongly against the suspension of the mid-term elections next year and rumors of possible term extension of incumbent officials amid the Duterte administration's moves for a shift to federalism.

Robredo said that people's right to vote under the democratic system would be undermined if the mid-term elections next year are suspended.

"Itong No Elections, kontrang kontra tayo doon sa no elections. Kasi iyong eleksyon, parang ito iyong pinakabuod ng ating demokrasya. Ito lamang iyong natatanging paraan para iyong ordinaryong Pilipino makilahok sa isang proseso na siya iyong pipili kung sino iyong mamumuno sa kaniya," Robredo said during her weekly radio show, BISErsbisyong LENI.

"Kasi kami namang mga namumuno, hindi naman kami iyong boss, pero kami iyong boses ng ordinaryong Pilipino. Kapag inalis natin sa ordinaryong Pilipino iyong karapatang pumili kung sino iyong magre-represent sa kaniya, nasaan na iyong demokrasya doon? Kaya sa atin, kontra tayo sa walang eleksyon," she added.

The Vice President also said that it would be "self-serving" to extend the terms of office of sitting officials.

She emphasized on the need for a "more serious" discussion on the proposals to amend the Constitution which will provide the new structure of the federal government.

"[K]ung makikinabang kami, parati nang may kuwestiyon kung ano iyong intensyon bakit magkakaroon ng term extension. Parang self-serving: 'Gusto naming palawigin iyong aming termino, kaya magpapasa kami ng isang panukala o isang batas para habaan pa iyong kontrata namin sa mga Pilipino' ... Nasaan iyong katarungan doon?" Robredo said.

"Hindi pansariling interes. Kasi kung kami din iyong makikinabang, parating magdududa iyong ating mga kababayan kung bakit sinusulong iyong ganoon. Parang gusto lang naming palawigin iyong kapangyarihan na ibinigay sa amin," she added.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, Robredo's fellow Liberal Party member, had floated rumors of a 10-year transition period for the shift to the federal form of government.

Pangilinan said the terms of President Rodrigo Duterte, all senators and congressmen will be extended as no elections will be held during the transition period to a federal government.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez had hinted on the possibility of the 2019 mid-term polls not pushing through if the government successfully transitions into a federal form.

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel II had said that Duterte's presidency may be extended "if really necessary" during the transition.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, however, said that Duterte is not interested in extending his term. He said Duterte "wants to cut short his term rather than lengthen it." —ALG, GMA News