MANILA -- 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 of a Charter change.
The Magnificent 7 solons made the statement in reaction to consultative committee (ConCom) member, retired Associate Justice Antonio Nachura, who said in a television interview that some lawmakers are "inclined to call for poll delay next year."
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said any proposal to postpone the 2019 elections and extend the term of office of lawmakers is "self-serving and immoral."
"Disturbance of the elections 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.
Erice said the consultative committee must come up first with a draft of the proposed federal Charter and defend it in Congress.
For his part, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin said Nachura's statement of solons seeking poll postponement is "nothing new" and "only shows desperation" for charter change advocates.
"Term extension and no-elections 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.
Villarin cited surveys that have shown that two-thirds of Filipinos soundly reject Charter change.
He said the ConCom should send to the archive its proposal for future reference and academic studies.
"Justice Nachura should not put up some solons as strawman 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.
Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, on the other hand, said changing the Constiutiton 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 are hidden agenda behind it," Alejano said.
Nachura said if Congress approves the committee's proposal by the end of the year, the plebiscite would be held around February next year, which is a time so close to the May 2019 polls. (PNA)
