The Commission on Elections (Comelec) postponed the upcoming May 11 plebiscite in the Province of Palawan. The Commission, through Memorandum COVID19-3 dated March 25 and signed by Acting Comelec Sec.
Consuelo Diola, has approved the suspension of all preparatory activities relative to the conduct of the plebiscite to ratify the division of Palawan into three provinces.
According to Acting Sec. Diola in her communication to Acting Deputy Executive Director for Operations Teopisto Elnas Jr., after the consultation with the members of the COMELEC En Banc also in the said date under their continuing quorum, the activity is suspended in relation to the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) due to Corona Virus Disease 2019.
The suspension of the plebiscite is both asked by One Palawan Movement and the Provincial Government of Palawan (PGP). The copy of the Memorandum was received by the Provincial Information Office (PIO) yesterday, April 2.
Pursuant to Republic No. 11259 which was approved on April 5, 2019, the proposed new three provinces are Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.
The Provincial Board during their online special session last March 27 had given an authority to Gov. Jose Alvarez to file a petition to Commissions on Elections in order to fully focus in the successful implementation of Luzon-wide ECQ.
“Alam naman natin na this time, kinakailangan na lahat ng energy, lahat ng tao, lahat ng focus ng Provincial Government should be centered in solving COVID-19 dito sa ating lalawigan at pwedeng iisantabi muna ‘yung usaping 3N1,” Palawan spokesperson Winston Arzaga said during the online press briefing last March 30.
But for One Palawan, the decision of the Comelec was because of their earlier request prior to Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The group’s lead convenor Cynthia Sumagaysay-del Rosario explained it by a timeline comparison.
She said that on March 18, she already wrote to Comelec for suspension so that the allocated money should be used instead for the people being affected by the pandemic disease.
On March 24, del Rosario added, she received a reply that says that her letter she sent electronically was already sent to Comelec chairman. In the following day, March 25 and also the date of the Memorandum, she said that she was informed that the Comelec En Banc have decided to suspend the plebiscite.
“Lingid sa kaalaman ng Kapitolyo, may confirmation na kaming natanggap mula sa isang Comelec Commissioner na postponement na ang decision nila sa kanilang en banc session,” she further said. The date she was referring to is March 26.
And on March 27, the Provincial Board called a special session to plan a request for postponement of the plebiscite.
“Biglang nagpatawag ng special session sa Provincial Council para planuhin ang pag-request nila ng postponement. Saka lang papasok ang nahuling move ni [Gov.] JCA,” del Rosario further stated.