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Former Comelec commissioner sees no basis to postpone 2022 elections


The proposal to postponing the 2022 elections due to the coronavirus pandemic is without basis, a former commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB,  former Comelec Atty. Gregorio Larrazabal said other countries have managed or plan to hold elections even amid the height of the pandemic.

“Walang basehan ‘yan, kasi in fact ‘yung ibang bansa nag-eleksyon na. ‘Yung South Korea had elections early this year, Germany is going to have elections US is going to have elections. Kung kaya ng ibang bansa, bakit ‘di natin kaya?” he said.

Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo earlier asked Comelec officials if it was considering a postponement of the 2022 elections due to health and safety concerns brought by COVID-19. 

“Under the law kasi, there are specific conditions para i-postpone ang elections. E wala ‘yan dito e. We have more than one year to prepare. Wala ‘yan,” Larrazabal said.

“For example, may eleksyon tomorrow tapos may bagyo, hindi makaboto ‘yung mga tao. Puwede ‘yun [i-postpone]. Puwede i-move but it’s within 30 days after elections. Hindi puwedeng indefinite ‘yun,” he added.

Larrazabal said that officials elected during the 2016 and 2019 elections could not extend their term even if the 2022 elections are postponed or canceled.

“Nasa Constitution natin na lahat ng elected officials sa 2019 elections saka 2016 elections—president, vice president, at saka senators—their term will end on June 30, 2022," Larrazabal said.

"Maski ayaw nila ng eleksyon, hindi sila makaka-extend ng term. So wala rin,” he added.

The former Comelec commissioner called on the public to register to vote for the May 2022 elections as early as possible. -NB, GMA News

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