Malacañang on Monday dismissed fresh calls for a snap election as nothing more than “wishful thinking,” saying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains focused on governance and helping communities recover from recent disasters.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the administration has no time to entertain political distractions, especially as the government continues to provide aid to areas hit by earthquakes and typhoons.
“It is just his wishful thinking. We do not have time to talk about one’s personal desires,” Castro said in a statement, responding to the idea floated by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who is allied with the minority bloc in the Senate.
“The President is busy working for the nation and helping those affected by disasters. He has no time for this kind of politicking,” she added.
Castro urged political figures and the public to put aside partisan interests and prioritize the needs of ordinary Filipinos.
“Let us all focus on the needs of our people, not on selfish interests,” she added.
The statement followed Cayetano’s proposal to end the current political standoff. “What if we all just resign and allow a snap election, from the President, Vice President, Senate, and Congress?” he said.
“With one important addition, no incumbent from the above can run for one election cycle. National government has its bureaucracy and will continue to run. Governors, mayors, and barangay chairpersons are generally trusted and will be in place,” the senator added.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) rejected the idea, saying it cannot hold snap elections, since such elections need a law mandating the poll body to conduct such snap elections.
Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said in a radio interview that under the 1987 Constitution, there is currently no constitutional or legal framework for such elections.
The 1987 Constitution doesn’t provide a clear framework for snap elections, making it essential to have a specific law in place, according to the poll body chief.
Under existing Philippine laws, there are fixed term limits for government officials to prevent the perpetuation of power and promote democratic rotation of leadership.
“The Comelec’s role is to implement laws, and without a clear mandate, they cannot hold snap elections,” Garcia said.
He said snap elections might be possible in cases of mass resignation or other extraordinary circumstances, but a law would still be necessary to guide the process.
