Sotto says ‘no-el’ possible only if election law is amended

A no-election scenario in 2019 would only be possible if the law mandating the holding of elections every three years would be amended, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Wednesday.

“The question is — are we willing to do that?” Sotto said in a Viber message sent to Senate reporters.

Talks of a no-election scenario surfaced following the approval of the draft federal Constitution by the Consultative Committee (Con-com), although it has yet to be tackled by Congress.

Sotto said the Constitution would have to be amended also if the House of Representatives would insist on pushing through with Charter change (Cha-Cha) without the Senate.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez himself revived the issue as the Senate continues to consider it as a non-priority measure.

“Mas gugustuhin namin na kasama sila. Pero kung ayaw nila, eh ‘di (We prefer to do this with them, but if they are not willing, then) we will proceed with the proposal to the people,”Alvarez reportedly said.

READ: Alvarez: ‘No-el’ in 2019 practical to speed up federal shift

When asked for comment, Sotto said: “It’s difficult because we have to amend the Consti[tution] to do that.”

The Senate leader cited in particular Article VI, Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution. /ee