Senate head frowns over Comelec’s suggestion to reset elections

By BEN SERRANO
Correspondent

BUTUAN City–Senate President Franklin Drilon yesterday frowned over the Commission on Election’s suggestion to postpone the May 9 elections, saying he doubts if Congress would allow this.

This, following the Supreme Court’s ruling to make the Comelec enable the voter verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) feature of the vote counting machines (VCM) so each voter could receive receipts to avoid election fraud. The Comelec said this would delay the election process.

Drilon however said he was open to the possibility of extending the voting time if necessary but not postponing the elections.

He said the Comelec cannot decide on postponing the May elections, and that only Congress can make this possible but lawmakers would likely not “entertain” this idea.

“I doubt if we can convene even half the members of the two Houses. Personally, I say a big no to postponing the May 9 elections because it is stipulated in our laws that national elections must be held every second Monday of May,” Drilon said.

He said he was open to the possibility of extending the hours of voting to address the Comelec’s concern about not not having enough time for the printing and issuance of receipts to voters.

Drilon said there is no law banning the Comelec from extending voting hours.

“Comelec can always extend the number of hours on May 9 or they can extend it to May 10 if that it is necessary,” he said.

Drilon called on the Comelec to refrain from making premature public pronouncements on the postponement of elections, and instead focus on finding ways to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“The Comelec cannot postpone the national election. Period. There should not even be talks about a postponement. I will block any attempt to postpone the elections,” he said.

Drilon said under the Omnibus Election Code, a postponement may only be effected for “serious causes such us violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, and other analogous causes of such nature that the holding of a free, orderly and honest election should become impossible in any political subdivision.”

He said, “Comelec is mandated by no less than the Constitution to conduct, without fail, clean, orderly and credible elections in the country.”