Palace downplays ‘no-el’ scenario in 2019

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (Photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The elections will push through unless the Constitution will be amended before the 2019 midterm polls, a Palace official said on Wednesday.

“Again, the President always looks to the Constitution as his guiding document. The Constitution sets the date for the next elections in 2019,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

“So unless the Constitution is amended ahead of the 2019 elections, it will have to push through,” he added.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said that the elections could possibly be postponed in 2019 should the planned shift to federalism pushes through this year.

READ: No-el scenario in 2019 possible – Alvarez

Alvarez said Congress may convene this January to discuss the proposal and hold a referendum in May, coinciding with the planned barangay elections.

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, for his part, said that if federalism materializes, President Rodrigo Duterte’s term may be extended “if necessary” and if the chief executive is “amenable” to it.

READ: Koko: Federalism may extend Duterte’s term, ‘if he’s amenable’

Roque, however, maintained that Duterte’s role as the chief executive is to “implement the Constitution and the law.”

“So unless the Constitution is amended, which includes being ratified by the people prior to the date set in the Constitution, elections will have to push through,” he added. /jpv