A LAWMAKER on Monday slammed the Commission on Elections for saying there could be no elections next year in light of the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order against the poll body’s “No Bio, No Boto” policy.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon made the statement in response to the statement by Comelec chairman Andres Bautista that the May 2016 elections could be postponed if the high court does not lift its TRO on its policy that those voters who had no biometrics could not vote.
“The national elections are mandated by no other than our Constitution,” Ridon said.
“It is not an exercise conducted for the convenience of the Comelec. The holding of the national elections requires a lot of forward thinking and planning—something that is apparently missing right now.”
Ridon made his statement even as Malacañang
said it would be in the best interest of all political parties that the May 2016 elections pushed through amid fears there would be no elections if the Supreme Court failed to lift its order on the Comelec’s “No Bio, No Boto” campaign.
“There was a concern by Comelec Chair Andy Bautista that there might be ‘no-el’, but I think it’s in the interest of everyone concerned… that we should vote, that elections should be held in May,” Lacierda told reporters.
“We will defer to the judgment of the Supreme Court. I believe that they also have the best interest of our country in mind.”
In the House, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez expressed confidence the May 2016 elections would proceed as scheduled despite the issuance of a TRO by the Supreme Court on the Comelec’s “No bio, No boto” policy.
“I have a complete confidence in the ability of Comelec officials that this minor setback will not totally derail and affect their preparations for the elections next year,” Romualdez said.
“We all know that no-el [no elections] is unacceptable and even unthinkable, so I am confident that the Comelec will eventually find ways to address this situation.”
The high court issued its order to the Comelec on Dec. 1 following a petition filed by the Kabataan party-list that questioned the constitutionality of the Comelec’s policy.
The Comelec’s officials had earlier said if the voters without biometrics were allowed to vote, instances of “flying voters” would become rampant as the Comelec would not be able to validate their voter status.
But Ridon disagreed.
“The right to suffrage is a fundamental right,” he said.
“Why threaten to postpone the elections just because the Supreme Court granted a well-meaning petition that will benefit about three million voters?”