Senators weigh in on snap election call; Sotto warns of chaos
Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. (FILE) Photo from Lacson-Sotto media bureau
MANILA, Philippines — Senators weighed in on Monday regarding the call for a snap election, with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III warning that the proposal would only bring uncertainty and chaos.
Sotto and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson noted that the snap elections proposed by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano are not provided for in the Constitution.
“We have no Constitutional nor legal framework for snap elections,” Sotto said in a message to reporters on Viber.
“We will be flirting with uncertainty and chaos,” the Senate chief added.
Cayetano suggested it on Sunday amid a series of corruption scandals rocking the government.
READ: Cayetano urges gov’t officials to resign, pushes for snap elections
“If we are really serious about restoring trust, then let’s go all in,” Cayetano said. “Let everyone resign — from the President down to the last congressman — and let’s hold snap elections.”
“But here’s the catch,” he added. “None of us who are in office now should be allowed to run again.”
Several members of the Senate and the House of Representatives have been accused of receiving kickbacks from multi-billion worth of government flood control projects.
The controversy has been the subject of separate investigations in Congress and by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
Lacson agreed with Sotto that the Constitution does not provide for a snap election.
“Second, it will not solve the problem of corruption. The contrary is true,” Lacson said in a separate Viber message.
“Further, certainty of punishment will deter corruption, especially when the swiftness of conviction is proportionate to the government official’s rank,” he added.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo, on the other hand, agreed with Cayetano’s proposal.
“I agree. But is it possible at this time?” Tulfo asked in another message.
Congress, he said, should first pass a law to fund a snap election.
“Why not include all elected officials from the president down to councilors,” Tulfo suggested./mcm
