Philippines poll body rejects proposals to postpone presidential election
The Philippines’ elections commission, on Monday, rejected proposals to postpone 2022 presidential polls amid concerns the vote could spread the coronavirus.
The Philippine constitution states that elections for president and vice president should be held every six years on the second Monday of May.
James Jimenez, spokesman for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said 2022 elections, scheduled on May 9, should push through.
“We just cannot reschedule or cancel elections because it is the constitution that schedules it,” he said.
Earlier a congressman proposed the postponement of the elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic, amid concerns that the vote could be a super spreader event.
Jimenez also warned the public against a website conducting an online survey on potential presidential candidates in 2022.
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In a Twitter post, he said that the website PiliPinas2020.ph is “not affiliated with the Comelec in any way.”
Among the politicians being eyed as possible presidential candidates are Vice President Leni Robredo; daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, Mayor Sara Duterte; and Senator and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.
Other potential candidates are a former senator and son of late dictator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Junior, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, and Senator Grace Poe.
Aside from president and vice president, Filipinos are also going to elect half of the 24-member Senate, more than 200 members of the House of Representatives, and thousands of local officials.
