[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=”]
[/av_textblock]
[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Palace: 2019 elections to push thru’ 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=”][/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
MANILA – Two Malacañang officials assured the public that the 2019 mid-term elections will push through as scheduled.
“The 2019 elections will push through. It is stated in the law,” Presidential Communications Operations Office secretary Martin Andanar said in television morning show interview on Thursday.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Wednesday the cancellation of the 2019 mid-term elections was “highly likely” if the government shifts from the unitary to the federal system this year.
Andanar also 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 told a press briefing in Davao City on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Roque reiterated that Duterte would not seek an extension of his term, adding that the President even expressed readiness to cut short his six-year term if federalism takes effect before 2022.
“The President has definitely rejected the idea of prolonging his term,” Roque said.
On Wednesday, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III floated the idea of a term extension amid the call to shift to the federal system.
“If the Constitution will be amended to provide for federalism and a provision that would strengthen public culpability, he (Duterte) has said he is willing to cut short his term,” Roque said. (PNA)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
