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House leaders on Friday brushed aside speculations there will be no
elections on May 14, saying the rumors were being spread by the
opposition as its continues to plot the downfall of the Arroyo
government.
Reps. Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur and Eduardo
Zialcita of Parañaque said a no-elections scenario is no longer
possible since everyone, including the administration, is gearing up
for the midterm polls.
The two made the remarks in the face of
criticisms over a Commission on Elections resolution setting
guidelines for the filing of a new people’s initiative.
Cagas, who heads the House contingent to the
Electoral Tribunal, denounced attempts by government detractors to
politicize the issue.
“There is nothing controversial or irregular
about the Comelec resolution. The Comelec is just doing its job by
issuing new guidelines on the filing of a [people’s initiative] on
the basis of the Supreme Court’s ruling last year that the
enabling law on people’s initiative is sufficient. The timing is
immaterial because these guidelines can be issued anytime and under
any administration,” he said.
Cagas said those peddling the no-election rumors
want only to misinform and provoke the people to go against the
government.
“It’s all systems go for the May elections.
Even the Department of Budget and Management has given assurance
that there will be enough funds for conducting the elections,” he
said.
Zialcita, chairman of the House Committee on
Housing and Urban Development, appealed to the people to “remain
in focus” to ensure that the May polls will be honest, clean and
peaceful.
The opposition finds the Comelec’s move in bad
taste.
Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran said the Comelec
could not initiate its own
people’s initiative or signature campaign to
amend the 1987 Constitution and conduct a plebiscite at the same
time as the May polls.
“This is another cockeyed government scheme to
rush Charter change and ram in constitutional revisions that will
favor the proponents and their economic and political backers,”
said Beltran. “It says mouthfuls about the Macapagal-Arroyo
administration that it continues to push Charter change when the
Filipino people have already declared their stand against it.”
There are reports the Comelec had released
revised rules or supplementary guidelines on the conduct of such an
initiative and a subsequent plebiscite. The guidelines were
published in two dailies, as required by law, and will take effect
on January 10.
“The May polls are literally just around the
corner. The Comelec should just focus on the preparations for the
elections and drop this petition campaign that will not stand public
scrutiny or acceptance because it’s evidently backed by Malacañang,”
Beltran said.
--Maricel V. Cruz
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