00:00 The Commission on Elections, or COMELEC, believes it is capable of simultaneously handling the
00:05 plebiscite on charter change and the midterm elections in 2025 if need be, a possibility
00:12 many lawmakers are not keen on as they strive to amend the economic provisions way before the said
00:18 political exercises held. Daniel Manalastas has more.
00:24 The Commission on Elections said it can synchronize the May 2025 midterm elections
00:30 with the referendum or plebiscite on charter change, in case the proposed amendments to
00:35 the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution pass legislative muster. COMELEC Chairperson
00:42 George García said there will be no extra expenses in case this happens, except for the
00:48 additional allowances for teachers which the poll body will request. He added, "Having made a design
00:54 of sample ballots with plebiscite questions, the COMELEC's statement came after Senate President
01:00 Juan Miguel Zubiri shared some of what happened during their meeting with President Ferdinand
01:06 R. Marcos Jr."
01:07 Presidente, to be very honest, he said earlier that he wants more plebiscite in the 2025 elections.
01:16 Because it is very clear that if we do that before the elections, we will spend 12 to 14 billion.
01:25 Zubiri said the President reiterated some of things he wants as both houses of Congress
01:31 are currently discussing the economic charter change.
01:34 He said, "We allow the Senator to take the lead and I've asked the House leaders to wait for your
01:41 output and that they should just adopt."
01:44 And when it comes to voting,
01:45 We haven't talked about it yet.
01:48 Of course, the President knows. He knows it's possible.
01:51 He said that's it.
01:52 Voting.
01:52 Meanwhile, Senators reiterated not to rush the cha-cha discussions.
01:57 It's not a career. It's not a career to decide who will go first.
02:02 It's not a 100-meter dash.
02:04 The creation of a constitution, even the proposals to amend the constitution, would take time.
02:15 I hope that everyone will cease fire.
02:16 Congress, our fellow friends in Congress, and our friends here in the Senate.
02:24 That's enough. Let's think about the problem of the country.
02:28 Daniel Maranastas for the National TV Network, for a new and better republic.
Comments