MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will leave it up to the Congress and President Rodrigo Duterte for possible suspension of the 2020 national elections due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
This was the response of Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas when asked by Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo regarding the possible delay of the national polls since the public “might be scared to go out and vote” due to COVID-19.
“It is not Comelec’s call,” Abas answered Arroyo saying the Comelec should consider the postponement. “Kung magtuloy-tuloy ang pandemya, in 2022, ready po kami na i-hold ang election based sa ‘new normal’ na scenario natin.”
Comelec executive director Bartolome Sinocruz, for his part, said contingency measures are being planned, including the possible holding of the polls for two days.
“Holding of elections will be for two days para ma-regulate ‘yung boboto. Some precincts will vote on the first day, some will be on the second day,” Sinocruz said in the same hearing.
“Sa polling place, we will reduce the number of seats, persons voting at any given time, to a maximum of five. To regulate people, we will install a voter’s assistance desk in voting centers to give people their precinct assignments,” he added.
Sinocruz also said the filing of certificates of candidacy among politicians will be done virtually to avoid swarm of people at the Comelec office.
“We are looking at online filing of certificates of candidacy,” Sinocruz said. “We will consider opening up filing by positions, a certain number of days will be allotted for city councilors, mayors and vice mayors, same thing will happen with provincial elections.”/PN
