Palace rejects clamor to postpone 2022 elections

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday rejected calls to postpone the 2022 national elections, saying it presents “constitutional challenges.”

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the COVID-19 pandemic should not be used as an excuse to postpone the elections.

“The holding of elections is a public service that the government must ensure to deliver. The idea to postpone the 2022 elections, if and when it happens, presents constitutional challenges,” Roque said.

Roque noted that under the 1987 Constitution, it is clear that the fixed date for the national elections is on the second Monday of May.

Given that the national election is still two years away, Roque said the country can learn from other countries like the United States “on how they conduct polls during COVID-19 pandemic.”

“We must not use the existing global health crisis as a ground to cancel and reschedule the elections as this would not sit well with the public,” Roque said.

House Deputy Majority Leader and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Mikey Arroyo floated the possibility of postponing the 2022 polls due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is eyeing to conduct the 2022 national elections for two to three days should the COVID-19 persist by then. [ac]