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[av_heading heading=’No to poll cancellation, yes to federalism – city dads ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY CAROLYN JANE ABELLO
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ILOILO City – At least two city councilors believed cancelling the 2019 mid-term elections will be detrimental to the voters.
Plaridel Nava and Mandrie Malabor were reacting to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s claim that the cancellation of the 2019 elections is “highly possible” if the Philippines shifts to a federal system of government this year.
According to Nava, the public will be deprived of the chance to replace incumbent officials if that happens.
“Ang aton nga mga pumuluyo, ang aton voters, aton constituents, will not have the option to change sang ila nga mga liderato – ang mga gadumala sang ila nga mga ciudad, sa munisipyo or probinsya man. Mas maayo gid nga may eleksyon,” he said.
Cancelling the elections will take from the communities their right to choose the public officials they wanted to serve them, Malabor said.
But both councilors were hopeful of the federal system of government.
Nava said the form of government needs to be changed, what with the “failures” of the current system.
“I think ang kalabanan nga prosperous nga countries naga-adapt na sang federalism,” he said.
Perhaps the “devolution of powers sa mga separate nga mga states and provinces” could help solve “all the difficulties” in government, said Nava.
“Hopefully, [amo ni] ang sabat sa madugay nga handom naton sa isa ka mainuswagon kag prosperous nga pungsod,” he added.
According to Malabor, any form of government will work if people obey and cooperate.
With federalism, “basi man lang mangin OK man ang aton sistema kag ang aton pumuluyo makabenepisyo sang dako,” he said.
In light of Alvarez’s statement, Malacañang officials assured that the 2019 elections will push through as scheduled.
“It is stated in the law,” Presidential Communications Operations Office secretary Martin Andanar said.
But Andanar clarified that the move to shift to the federal system continues.
“It is one of the campaign promises of President [Rodrigo] Duterte,” the communications official said. “We will try within his term. We just don’t know what year.”
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte was mandated by law to hold the mid-term elections.
“Unless and until the Constitution is amended and ratified by the people, the election will push through in 2019, and the President promises that if the election will push through, we will have credible and honest elections,” Roque said./PN
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