PINAGHAHANDAAN ng Senado ang pagtatangkang maantala ang May 2022 elections at palawigin ang termino ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Sinabi ni Senador Panfilo Lacson na hindi maiiwasang isipin na ang intensiyon ng paghahain ni Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi ng petisyon na buksan ulit ang paghahain ng Certificate of Candidacy ay upang ipagpaliban ang halalan.

“I would not like to think that the intention of the petition to reopen the filing of the COCs filed by the PDP-Laban is to delay the election on May 9, 2022 — and pave the way for the extension of the term of office of the President beyond June 30, 2022. This is something the 1987 Constitution clearly forbids,” pahayag ni Lacson.

Dahil dito, iginiit ni Lacson kay Senate President Vicente Sotto at sa kanyang mga kasamahan na hindi nila maaaring payagang mangyari ang senaryong ito.

Upang mapangalagaan ang presidential line of succession, inirekomenda ni Lacson na maghalal ang mga senador ng bagong Senate President bago mag-adjourn ang sesyon sa Hunyo.

“The new Senate President, whose term will expire on June 30, 2025, should act as President until a new President or Vice President shall have been chosen and qualified,” paliwanag pa ni Lacson.

“Let me clarify and emphasize that I am not accusing the administration of any malevolent attempt in this possible scenario. What I’m only saying is that the Senate will always be the bulwark of our democracy, and I take pride in playing a major role in it,” dagdag ng mambabatas.

Kinumpirma naman ni Sotto na pinag-usapan nila ni Lacson ang rekomendasyon kasabay ng pangako na pananatilihin nila ang Senado bilang tagapagtanggol ng demokrasya ng bansa.

“Yes we have discussed that, it’s our idea of how to resolve the problem of vacancy in the leadership. We were ten steps ahead,” pahayag ni Sotto.

“It’s resolving a constitutional problem if everyone’s term ends on June 30 and with no newly elected officials,” dagdag pa ng lider ng Senado.