The conduct of a plebiscite that could determine the division of Maguindanao into two provinces, and four other plebiscites have been deferred by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to enable the poll body focus on the forthcoming national and local elections in May.
In its Resolution 10716, the Comelec en banc cited “arduous preparations” needed for the holding of May 2022 elections amid the pandemic.
The poll body added that they also have put in place some quarantine protocols in and every plebiscite, thus, necessitating the rescheduling of the electoral exercises.
“The preparation for the plebiscite may take longer time in view of the Covid-19 pandemic as experienced in the last March 2021Palawan plebiscite wherein the Commission took more than four months to complete the process,” the Comelec en banc said.
The new issuance will apply to the following plebiscites: to ratify the creation of Barangay New Canaan into a regular and distinct barangay in the municipality of Alabel, Sarangani Province; to ratify the merging or Barangay District 1 to Barangay District 28 and renaming of Barangay 29 in Ormoc City; and to ratify the conversion of the municipality of Calaca in the province of Batangas into a component city.
Also affected by the resolution are the plebiscites to ratify the conversion of the City of San Jose Del Monte into a highly Urbanized City and the division of Maguindanao Province into two provinces.
“…By virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, and other election laws, hereby resolve, as it hereby resolves to suspend the conduct of plebiscites,” the Comelec en banc said.
The said plebiscites will now be held “within four months from the end of the election period for the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections.”
Resolution 10716 was approved by the Comelec en banc last Wednesday and will immediately take effect after it is published in two daily newspapers of general circulation.