No need to postpone 2022 polls – Comelec

Senators, congressmen say postponement is unconstitutional

- ANALOU DE VERA, HANNAH L. TORREGOZA, MARIO B. CASAYURAN, and ELLSON A. QUISMORIO

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that it is already preparing for the conduct of the national elections in 2022, saying that it sees no need to postpone the elections because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“As far as Comelec is concerned, given na by 2022 may pandemya pa rin. Iyan ang pinaka-basis ng aming paghahanda – na kailangan nating mag-ingat kasi sa 2022 sa panahon ng halalan, mayroon at mayroong pandemya. And in fact, ine-expect natin na wala pa dyan effective distribution ng vaccine [As far as the Comelec is concerned, it is given that by 2022 there is still a pandemic. That is the very basis of our preparation – that we need to be careful because during the 2022 elections there will still be a pandemic. And in fact, we also expect that there is still no effective distribution of vaccine by that time],” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez during a radio interview on Thursday.

“At this point we don't see a need for it (postponement), hindi nakikita yung pangangailangan [At this point we do not see a need for it (postponement), we do not see the need],” he added. 8

Jimenez said that they are currently studying proposals on how to safely conduct the elections amid the coronavirus pandemic. These include expanding the “alternative voting method” and the online filing of Certificates of Candidacy.

Senators and congressmen said postponing the May, 2022 national and local elections is unconstitutional.