SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez yesterday raised the possibility that no election would be held in 2019 because of the proposed shift to a federal form of government, which is the top priority of the House of Representatives this year.
Alvarez said the proposed changes to the Constitution as approved by Congress sitting as a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) may be submitted to the people in a plebiscite in May, simultaneously with the barangay and the Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
“Anything is possible if we’ll just work on it,” he told ANC. “Let’s be practical. Once nag-shift into a different form of government, unitary to federal, you need a transition government.”
The Speaker, however, said everything depends on what will be agreed upon by congressmen and senators once they convene as a Con-Ass.
“There will be a transitory provision. It will provide when the terms of incumbent officials will expire and when they will be due for elections (under the new federal setup),” he said.
Alvarez said it is just “incidental” that incumbent elected officials would benefit from the possible election postponement because of the transition phase.
The terms of 12 senators will expire in 2019 while the rest will be in 2022, Alvarez noted, adding that it will be better to just have all their terms expire in 2022 for a smooth transition.
“I think it will be best if all the terms will expire in 2022 so that there will be no more unused terms anymore,” he said.
The administration gave up on the proposed election of delegates to a constitutional convention (Con-Con) in favor of convening Congress as con-ass because con-con will require a huge funding, ranging from P6 to P7 billion, on top of the budget for the salaries and office maintenance.
The administration was initially eyeing to hold the plebiscite simultaneously with the 2019 midterm elections, with the end in view of shifting to a federal-parliamentary form of government by 2022.
President Duterte has already created a 25-man consultative committee to review the 1987 Constitution to pave the way for the eventual shift to federalism.
Rep. Karlo Nograles (PDP-Laban, Davao City), chair of the House committee on appropriations, said the top priority of the 17th Congress “is to usher in a federalized Philippines in 2018.”
“Over 16 million Filipinos gave their stamp of approval to this endeavor when they elected President Rodrigo Duterte, who has championed federalism since Day One,” he said. “The con-ass is designed to maximize the output of legislators while focusing on a specific goal, which is to federalize the government.”
NOTHING TO FEAR
Alvarez acknowledged the concerns of senators who are against the possible dissolution of the Senate under a federal setup, saying they could still run for the new legislature.
He also reminded the senators that the country used to be under a unicameral system and will only be returning to it under a new and improved system.
“Let’s revisit Philippine history. Originally, we were under a unicameral setup so what are we worried about? They (senators) can still run. Can they only run for senators? They can run as members of whatever legislative branch that will be created under the new Constitution. They can even run for President or whatever (position),” Alvarez said.
Alvarez is confident of the support of the supermajority for con-ass but said he has no idea if majority of senators are for it, too.
“This is a question of patriotism. Let’s do what is right and what the country needs now,” the Speaker said.
Alvarez, likewise, recognized another road block in the proposed shift to federalism which is the manner by which the two chambers of Congress will vote on the changes – either jointly or separately.
While he believes the assembly should vote jointly, Alvarez said the matter may reach the Supreme Court once the constitutional issue becomes “justiciable.”
‘CAT IS OUT’
But Rep. Tom Villarin (PL, Akbayan), a member of the seven-man opposition bloc, said: “The cat is out of the bag. It reveals the true intentions of the Duterte administration to perpetuate themselves in power.”
“It speaks volumes of how they have arrogated power unto themselves and instilled fear upon the people who oppose their position,” he said.
Villarin questioned the timing of the Speaker’s statement, saying it “provides shock value that Speaker Alvarez hopes will pan out and be accepted by the public – this is totally unacceptable in a democracy and people must resist this public pronouncement.”
“This is self-serving and blatantly undemocratic. Amending our Constitution to extend the term of politicians acting as a sovereign body to tinker with our charter leads us to unchartered waters. It is very dangerous and will lead to political instability,” said the opposition lawmaker.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III dismissed the possibility of a no-election scenario next year.
“That is not an “either-or” situation. We can shift to federalism and allow all scheduled elections under the existing Constitution to go on and be held. What is important are the transitory provisions which will govern the terms and duties of those elected in the last election under the 1987 Constitution,” he said in a text message to reporters.
Pimentel explained that before a new Constitution becomes operational, the provisions of the existing one must be followed.
“Hence, if there are scheduled elections under the existing Constitution, then this must be followed,” he added.
Pimentel said President Duterte’s six-year tem may be extended by three years “if really necessary during the transitory period” under the shift to federalism.
“We can extend the President’s term if really necessary and if he is amenable to it and since the extension will be part of the new constitution, the new constitution should be approved by the people themselves,” he said.
He said if the new Constitution will be approved next year, the next three years will be the transition period.
Duterte’s six-year term will end in 2022. – With Ashzel Hachero
