Group clarifies they want poll postponement to 2023, cites typo error in petition

MANILA, Philippines — Owing it to typographical error, the Coalition for Life and Democracy clarified on Monday that they only want the 2022 elections to be moved next year, and not suspended until 2025.

The group had filed a petition urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to delay the 2022 polls due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Siguro po kung nabasa niyo ‘yung aming petition, ‘yung sulat na pinadala namin sa Comelec, at saka kay President [Rodrigo] Duterte (If you read our petition and the letter we sent to Comelec and Duterte), we cited there a postponement of at least one year until May of 2023,” the group’s counsel Atty. Francisco Buan Jr. said on Teleradyo’s On the Spot.

“Although, nagkaroon ng typographical error du’n sa prayer na naging 2025. Pero, on the other hand, kung mapapagbibigyan kami hanggang 2025, better kasi siguro by that time, ang COVID ay wala na,” he added.

(Although, there was a typographical error in the prayer, it became 2025. But, on the other hand, if our petition would be granted, 2025 would be better because by that time, COVID may not be a threat anymore.)

Meanwhile, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that there are two problems with the group’s petition.

“Number 1, again it’s a constitutional mandate to conduct elections every three years, even if it’s like next year, it’s still not three years as mandated by the Constitution,” said Jimenez on the same program.

“Pangalawa, ang problema niyan, walang holdover provision ang ating Constitution. So, since magtatapos ang mga termino ng mga incumbent officials natin sa June 30, who’s gonna run the country? ‘Yung appointee nila? Or ‘yung appointee na gusto nila? Hindi pwede ‘yan,” he added.

(Second, there is no holdover provision in our Constitution. So, since the terms of the incumbent officials end on June 30, who’s gonna run the country? Their appointees? Or the appointee that they want? It’s not allowed.)

For Jimenez, the group’s petition is political.

“I reject the idea that this is apolitical because this is very political. So, I think we should see this for what it is,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Buan said that they are an apolitical group and do not aim to extend Duterte’s rule.

“We are apolitical and it is only our desire to give protection sa buhay at sa health ng ating mga mamamayang Pilipino (to the lives and health of Filipinos),” Buan said.

Buan was a spokesperson of Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee, a group backing the chief executive.

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