MANILA — House of Representatives Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Friday she does not support the proposal to scrap the May 2019 midterm elections.
Arroyo made the statement when asked about her stand on the plans for the cancellation of next year’s midterm elections to give way to the administration’s federalism push. The no-elections scenario would also extend the terms of elected officials.
“No, definitely I am not supporting term extension,” Arroyo told reporters in an ambush interview in Dinalupihan, Bataan.
This is in contrast to the pronouncements of her predecessor, ousted Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who said postponing the 2019 polls is the “most practical” way to give lawmakers enough time to work on Charter Change.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte opposes cancelling next year’s election.
“Ang mensahe po sa lahat ng kaalyado ni Presidente sa Kamara at sa Mataas na Kapulungan, talagang ayaw po ni Presidente na — at ipagpaliban ang eleksiyon para lamang sa Charter Change (The President’s message to all his allies in the Congress and Senate is that he really does not want to postpone elections for Charter Change),” Roque said.
Malacañang has also assured the Filipino people that the midterm elections will push through in 2019. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
