A petition seeking to suspend the 2022 elections due to pandemic restrictions is "unlikely" to prosper, the Commission on Elections said Monday, citing its potential violations of the Constitution.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that while the poll body has the authority to suspend elections, it should only for a brief period of time and only when the conditions for free and fair elections do not exist.
"The petition itself, just on the surface of it, seems unlikely to prosper," he told ANC, reacting to moves by a group called the Coalition for Life and Democracy.
"It's basically saying that we're gonna go against the Constitution and just not hold elections this year. That would be unconstitutional," he added.
Jimenez said postponing the elections until 2025 is "problematic" as the Constitution is specific about when the elections should be held, and that it has no holdover provision for the positions that are up for elections.
"So I don't see any justification for granting this sort of petition. Of course, that's entirely up to the Commission en banc if ever it gets to them. But again just knowing what I know about the law and what we've been saying this time," he added.
The 2022 elections, which will determine the successors of President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo, are set for May 9 next year. The Comelec is expected to release the official list of candidates on Dec. 15.
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