Possible postponement of 2022 elections appalls de Lima

Sen. Leila de Lima said on Saturday that she was appalled by a suggestion that the 2022 elections needed to be postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns, pointing out that other countries such as South Korea managed to hold elections despite the pandemic.

“Ano na naman itong pinalulutang na no elections sa 2022? Kunwari pa silang nag-aalala sa kaligtasan ng Pilipino, eh halata namang gusto lang nilang pahabain ang kanilang termino,” said de Lima, who wrote her statement from her detention cell in Camp Crame.

“Instead of floating a No-El scenario, why not focus on finding ways to ensure the safety and success of the 2022 elections? At kapag sinabi nating safe, kasama na riyan ang pagiging ligtas sa pandaraya at pakikialam ng mga bayaran, basura at dayuhang troll,” the senator added.

De Lima also pointed out that an election was the only opportunity for citizens to hold politicians responsible for their actions, and this opportunity should not be taken away from the electorate.

Furthermore, it would also be equally appalling if the government's COVID-19 response turned out to be so ineffective that the pandemic would still be raging across the country in 2022, a year and a half from now.

“Sobrang kapalpakan na kung mahigit isa’t kalahating taon mula ngayon, nagkukumahog pa rin itong [administrasyon ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte] sa pagtugon sa pandemya,” wrote de Lima.

“Akala ko ba sabi ni Duterte may bakuna na sa Disyembre? Mukhang ibang bakuna ang kailangan natin sa Pilipinas, bakuna laban sa pagkahumaling sa kapangyarihan.”

Last Thursday, House Deputy Majority Leader Mikey Arroyo floated the idea of postponing the 2022 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic. — DVM, GMA News