No Early Election in Masbate, Says Comelec
LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 17 - An early election in Masbate province is very unlikely, this according to the Commission on Election (Comelec) Bikol regional office.
Comelec Bikol regional director Zacariaz Zaragoza said on Wednesday that holding an election in Masbate ahead of the May 10 general election will not materialize without legal basis.
"The law provides that general election is on May 10, this means that holding an election ahead is illegal unless the Philippine Congress will enact another law," Zaragoza said.
He explained that being an election hot spot is not a basis to conduct an early election in the province of Masbate. "The proposal is very lean because there is no longer time for Congress to pursue a legislative measure that would allow the holding of elections ahead of the May 10 general election."
Earlier, lawyer Alberto Cañares III, acting election supervisor for Masbate, said he has been calling for separate balloting in Masbate which has a long history of election violence and rampant vote-buying.
Holding advanced elections in "hot spots" that include Masbate could prevent bloodshed and massive fraud as the poll body would be able to concentrate its security and administrative forces in those areas.
Some lawyers have claimed that the Comelec, on its own and without supporting legislation, can implement early elections in hot spots because of its broad powers in the Omnibus Election Code.
They said that under the Omnibus Election Code, the Comelec's powers during the election period are broad enough to allow it to cancel and reschedule elections in some cases.
As described by no less than the PNP chief, Director General Jesus Verzosa, "Masbate is one of the deadliest and most dangerous places during elections as local positions are bitterly contested." (PNA)
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