OPPOSITION lawmakers belonging to the “Magnificent 7” bloc on Tuesday slammed the call for the postponement of the 2019 elections to pave the way for a plebiscite for Charter change.
The so-called Magnificent 7 in the House of Representatives issued the statement in reaction to a recent statement issued by consultative committee (Con-com) member retired Associate Justice Antonio Nachura, who said in a television interview that some lawmakers are “inclined to call for poll delay next year.”
Rep. Edgar Erice of the Second District of Caloocan said any proposal to postpone the 2019 elections and extend the term of office of lawmakers is “self-serving and immoral.”
“Disturbance of the election process will only lead to the degradation of our democracy and will affect our economy since it will increase the political risk factor in business and investments,” Erice said.
He added the Con-com must come up first with a draft of the proposed federal charter and defend it in Congress.
For his part, Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin of Akbayan said Nachura’s statement on lawmakers seeking poll postponement is “nothing new,” and “only shows desperation” for Charter-change advocates.
“Term extension and no-election are always used as caveats in any move for Charter change. These are the twin evils of seeking power beyond what is allowed under the Constitution,” Villarin said.
He cited surveys that have shown that two-thirds of Filipinos soundly reject Charter change.
Villarin said the Con-com should send to the archive its proposal for future reference and academic studies.
“Justice Nachura should not put up some solons as straw men in a futile exercise. Our people want to go on with the scheduled 2019 elections that will start October 2018, when certificates of candidacies will be filed,” Villarin said.
Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano of Magdalo, for his part, said changing the Constitution is no ordinary measure and must be discussed and debated thoroughly instead of immediately opting for a poll postponement.
“Threat, intimidation, rewards employed by proponents to gather support to the shift are clear manifestations that there [is a] hidden agenda behind it,” Alejano said.