Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ JOAN BONDOC
MALACA脩ANG on Monday said the 2016 elections must be held as scheduled, as it is mandated by the Constitution.
The Palace was commenting on the statement on Sunday of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Andres Bautista that the elections might be postponed because a Supreme Court order temporarily stopping the Comelec鈥檚 鈥渘o bio, no boto鈥� (no biometrics, no vote) policy had upset preparations for the balloting.
Under the rule, only registered voters with biometrics data with the Comelec will be allowed to vote.
The Comelec, following its schedule, must complete the polling precinct assignments by Dec. 15.
But the Supreme Court order means the Comelec has to allow 2.4 million registered voters without biometrics data to vote.
It also means the Comelec has to revise the precinct assignments to make room for the 2.4 million voters without biometrics data鈥攁 revamp too big it cannot be finished by Dec. 15.
Bautista said the snag would have a domino effect on the rest of the Comelec鈥檚 preparations, making the May 9 vote likely to be pushed down to a later date.
The Constitution requires national elections to be held on the second Monday of May.
Filipinos are looking forward to that date, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters in Malaca帽ang Monday.
鈥淪o we 鈥� certainly [want the elections to be held as scheduled],鈥� Lacierda said.
Defer to SC
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He added, however, that the Palace would 鈥渄efer鈥� to the Supreme Court鈥檚 decision on the matter.
鈥淥ur 鈥� position is 鈥� the elections [must] push through as mandated by the Constitution. [All parties鈥攖he Comelec, the Supreme Court, all of them鈥攎ust have that in mind],鈥� Lacierda said.
Lacierda also brushed aside fears of an extension of President Aquino鈥檚 term in the event the elections were postponed.
鈥淲e are counting the number of days left. We have 206 days left and we cannot wait to leave, for the President to take his long-delayed break,鈥� he said.