ADMINISTRATION lawmakers on Wednesday welcomed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s statement indicating that he is “carefully studying” the possibility of holding the plebiscite on economic constitutional amendments simultaneously with the 2025 midterm elections.
In a press conference, Representatives Cheeno Miguel Almario (Davao Oriental, 2nd District), Ray Reyes (ANAKALUSUGAN Party-list), and
Peter Miguel (South Cotabato, 2nd District) underscored the need for careful consideration and thorough analysis before making any decisions regarding the simultaneous conduct of plebiscite and midterm elections.
“I think that this would still merit further study,” Almario said, referring to the proposal to hold the plebiscite simultaneously with the 2025 polls.
While recognizing the practicality of holding both events simultaneously, Almario noted the complexity of the issue given its constitutional implications.
“On a practicality sense, maganda naman kung pwede nating maipagsabay. But considering that this involves the Constitution, we will look into what are the possibilities that we can explore,” Almario said.
“For now we cannot say with confidence yet as we need to look into all the avenues, all the possibilities, and what the law provides that we can do or cannot do,” he added.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) previously stated that at least P13 billion would be required for a separate plebiscite.
Reyes recognized the concerns raised by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding the logistical challenges of separately holding the plebiscite and the midterm elections.
He emphasized the need to thoroughly examine the legalities involved, showing respect for the law and due process.
Reyes added that rushing decisions in such matters is unwarranted given that there is still ample time for thorough examination.
He said it is also imperative to scrutinize precedent cases where plebiscites have been combined with other electoral events.
“Meron na bang bagong ruling na nagsasabing hindi na pwedeng ipagsabay ang plebisito sa election? And then from there we can make an informed decision para po naman mas maging confident ang public that we have exhausted all legal and practical avenues para po magawa ang plebisito at midterm elections,” Reyes said.
For his part, Miguel brought attention to a potential legal obstacle, citing previous rulings by the Supreme Court (SC) that may prohibit the simultaneous conduct of the plebiscite and elections.
Miguel stressed the importance of conducting a comprehensive study to determine the feasibility of such a proposal.
He argued that if it is indeed impossible to hold them together, the government would not incur additional expenses.
However, Miguel also posed a rhetorical question, highlighting the relative insignificance of the projected costs compared to the anticipated benefits of economic development.
“What is P13 billion if we are going to see an influx of foreign investment to the tune of billions of dollars?” Miguel said.
Meanwhile, House Deputy Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Lone District Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II sees nothing wrong with the proposal to hold the plebiscite and elections together, emphasizing its practicality and economic advantages.
“My sense is, there’s no problem with that. In fact, that’s very practical and very economical, considering na isasabay mo sa elections next year,” Gonzales said in the same press conference.
“If we will go by the PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machine, maglalagay ka lang naman duon ng portion na yes or no (to the ratification of the amendments). So wala talagang additional cost,” he said.
Gonzales said the only issue with having the ratification process conducted simultaneously with next year’s mid-term polls is that the Comelec must receive the economic amendment proposals within a certain timeframe set by the Constitution.
He said the Comelec is mandated to hold the plebiscite “not earlier than 60 days nor later than 90 days” from receipt from Congress of the resolution containing the amendments.
The proposed Charter amendments are contained in Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7 for the House of Representatives and RBH No. 6 for the Senate.
He said that if both houses of Congress approve a common resolution by the required vote of three-fourths of all its members, such resolution must be received by the Comelec “around November or December this year” for it to fall within the 60-90-day timeframe coinciding with the May 2025 elections.
“So ‘yon, you can work on that, it may cram, assuming for the sake of argument that we are able—wishful thinking lang ‘to that we are able to approve this before the Lenten Season—I’m referring to both Houses of Congress, the matter of submission for plebiscite to the Comelec, i-adjust na lang to be within that period,” he said.
He pointed out that if the Comelec receives the proposed amendments earlier than the timeframe, “mapipilitan ang Comelec as mandated by the Constitution to have a plebiscite earlier than the elections next year.”
Many House members aim to hold a plenary vote on RBH No. 7 before their Holy Week break, starting on March 23.
In the Senate, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairing a special subcommittee handling RBH No. 6, personally targets October of this year for the process.
Before departing for Canberra, Australia on Thursday morning, President Marcos told reporters in an ambush interview that he is carefully considering the possibility of simultaneously conducting the plebiscite and the midterm elections.
“Pinag-aaralan talaga namin dahil kung paghihiwalay natin ang eleksyon at plebiscite, parang dalawang eleksyon ‘yan. Napakamahal. So baka maari kung isabay natin ang plebisito sa local elections na gagawin sa Mayo next year. Malaking bagay ‘yan, malaking savings para sa atin ‘yan,” the Chief Executive said in his own words.
He added: “So ‘yan ang pinag-aaralan naming mabuti. There are some legal consequences because plebiscite is slightly different, not so slight. Plebiscite is different from an election. So if we are able to incorporate the two exercises together as a practical matter, palagay ko makakatulong.”
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