P30M special election in Negros impractical?

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — An election lawyer has described as “impractical and unnecessary” the P30-million special election in the 5th District of Negros Occidental to fill the post vacated by the late Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, in a press statement, said, “It will be totally impractical, a waste of P30 million, time and manpower resources of Comelec to conduct a special election on June 2 (this year) wherein four months after, or on October 1 to 5, will already be the filing of candidacy for the 2013 polls.”

If the concern of Congress would be to help the constituents of Arroyo then the P30-million budget for such election could be channeled to the district, and the campaign money to be spent by the candidates could be donated instead to the constituents, he said.

Macalintal said whoever wins in the special election could neither enter into contracts for public work projects nor disburse funds because the election ban on this project will start by February 2013.

“If our lawmakers are really that concerned and sensitive to the needs of our people, they should heed the call of Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. not to hold the election for it is clearly impractical and unnecessary,” said Macalintal.

Brillantes earlier said he was not in favor of a special election in the 5th District because it would be a waste of time, considering that the tenure of Iggy’s successor would only be a year, and it would be an additional expense for the Comelec.

Representative Jeffrey Ferrer (4th dist., Neg. Occidental) also thought the polls at this time would be impractical, preferring instead for a new congressman for the 5th District to be elected in the 2013 elections. He added that the funds for the special poll could be better used to help the quake victims in Negros Oriental, or for the health needs of the residents of Iggy’s district.

The House of Representatives passed last Monday House Resolution 2171, adopted as HR 00248, which certified the existence of a vacancy in the 5th district Negros Occidental and called for a special election to fill the vacancy.

The resolution, authored by Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (2nd district) and co-authored by Reps. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez (3rd district) and Julio Ledesma IV (1st district), said a special election will “ensure the people of the 5th district of Negros Occidental are not denied proper representation in the 15th Congress.”

Last Friday, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez announced the approval of the special election set on June 2 with a budget of P30 million. He said the calendar of activities for the said election will be released this week after the Comelec en banc approves it.

Negros Occidental provincial elections supervisor Jesse Suarez said the Provincial Comelec is prepared for a special election in the 5th District, and is ready to receive instructions from the Comelec Head Office. (FREEMAN)