PHILIPPINE senators on Monday rejected a proposal by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter S. Cayetano for a snap election, saying it would only worsen political instability as the government faces scrutiny over alleged corruption in infrastructure spending.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III said the idea has no constitutional basis. “We have no constitutional or legal framework for snap elections. We will be flirting with uncertainty and chaos,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Cayetano on Sunday urged all top officials — from the President down to lawmakers — to resign and face snap elections, arguing that it would restore public trust amid revelations of alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
Mr. Sotto dismissed the suggestion, saying the Senate would instead focus on making the budget process more transparent.
“Everything will be done through the eyes… of the public,” he said. He also called on the newly created Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to open its hearings to the public and stressed that credible prosecutions were key.
“There should be prosecutions, imprisonment, and make sure that those who are guilty are proven so,” he added.
Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson also rejected Mr. Cayetano’s proposal, warning that special elections could create more opportunities for corruption.
“A snap election is not the key to restoring public trust in the government — but the certainty of punishment is,” he said in a statement. In many cases, candidates may try to buy votes using taxpayers’ money, he added.
Mr. Lacson urged swift convictions for those involved in anomalous flood control projects, saying accountability would serve as a stronger deterrent than political resets.
The Palace also downplayed the proposal. Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro described calls for a snap election as “wishful thinking.”
She said President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. remains focused on disaster response after a recent earthquake and typhoon.
“Let’s all focus on the needs of the people and not just on personal interests,” she told reporters in a Viber message.
The administration has come under pressure after reports of congressional insertions in this year’s budget and billions of pesos allegedly siphoned off through irregular flood mitigation projects.
Several investigations are under way, including by the Department of Justice, the Senate, and the ICI. — Adrian H. Halili
