No proposal to stop 2019 midterm elections — Comelec

There is no reason to believe that the 2019 national and local elections would be postponed, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) assured the public on Wednesday.

In an interview, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said there was no motion or proposal lodged before the poll body to seek the postponement of the midterm elections.

“Bear in mind that we are less than a year away from a national and local elections,” Jimenez said. “There appears to be no reason, therefore, to entertain such a notion at this time.”

Talks of a possible postponement of the midterm elections surfaced following a television interview of former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura, a member of President Duterte’s Consultative Committee.

Nachura, in an interview over ANC, said some lawmakers were “inclined” to call for a postponement of the elections to give way for a plebiscite to approve the new federal constitution being crafted by their committee.

READ: Villarin slams call to postpone 2019 polls

Eric Alvia, secretary general of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), said they would oppose any move to postpone the 2019 elections.

“We are against it,” Alvia said in an interview. “[The] regularity of elections is a cornerstone in any democracy and proper representation. Regular election is also a safeguard against local and national tyrants.”