Binigyang-diin ng Malacañang na ang pagsasagawa ng eleksyon ay isang public service na dapat i-deliver o ipatupad ng gobyerno.
Reaksyon ito ni Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque sa pinalutang ni Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo na pagpapaliban ng 2022 elections.
Sinabi ni Sec. Roque, ang panukalang ito ay may malaking problema sa 1987 Constitution na nagtatakda ng fixed date para sa national elections at ito ay tuwing ikalawang Lunes ng Mayo.
Ayon kay Sec. Roque, dalawang taon pa bago ang 2022 elections at may sapat pang panahon para makapaghanda.
Dapat daw matuto sa halimbawa ng ibang bansa gaya sa Estados Unidos na nakatakdang magsagawa ng eleksyon sa Nobyembre lalo kung paano nila ito isagawa sa gitna ng COVID-19 pandemic.
Iginiit ni Sec. Roque na hindi dapat gamiting dahilan ang kinakaharap na global health crisis sa pagpapaliban ng eleksyon dahil hindi ito katanggap-tanggap sa publiko.
“The holding of elections is a public service that the government must ensure to deliver. The idea to postpone the 2022 elections, if and when it happens, presents constitutional challenges. The 1987 Constitution is clear on the fixed date for the national elections, which is the second Monday of May. The National Election is still two years away and we still have sufficient time to prepare. We can learn from the examples of other countries, such as the United States, which will be holding an election later this year, on how they conduct polls during COVID-19 pandemic. We must not use the existing global health crisis as a ground to cancel and reschedule the elections as this would not sit well with the public,” ani Sec. Roque.
