(From left) Kean Cipriano, Nikki Valdez and Jason Abalos (Images: Instagram/@kean, @nikkivaldez_, @thejasonabalos)
Celebrities criticized the idea of postponing the 2022 national elections due to the pandemic after it was raised by Pampanga 2nd Dist. Rep. Mikey Arroyo.
Arroyo floated the thought during House deliberations on the proposed 2021 budget of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday, Sept. 24. Following his remark, artists quickly expressed their disagreement with the idea via their Twitter pages.
Kean Cipriano stated that he is against it and stressed that it is one’s right to vote. He also asked the government to focus on finding solutions to beat the pandemic instead of postponing the 2022 elections “[b]ecause every Filipino deserves good leadership.”
“Pagkatapos palabasin ang mga tao para bumalik ang ekonomiya, ngayon sasabihin ipagpaliban ang 2022 elections (which is [two] years from now) kasi takot ang mga tao?” he asked. “So sinsabi [niyo] ba na sa 2022 wala parin tayong solusyon sa pandemya?”
(After making people go out to revive the economy, now you are saying the 2022 elections (which is [two] years from now) will be postponed because people are scared? So are you saying that by 2022 we still have no solution to the pandemic?)
“No way! BOBOTO AKO SA (I will vote in) 2022!” Cipriano declared.
Meanwhile, Nikki Valdez pointed out how people voluntarily visited Manila Bay recently despite the pandemic.
“Nope. Di nga natakot magpapicture sa pekeng white sand nung nagbukas eh,” she said. “Bumoto pa kaya?!”
(People were not afraid to have their pictures taken on the fake white sand when it opened. What more when voting?)
She then described the idea as “[k]alokohan (nonsense).” As for Jason Abalos, he suggested that Arroyo should be canceled, instead of the 2022 elections.
Cancel daw 2022 election dahil pandemya, sa pampangga nag mula. Cancel nyo nga yang nakaupo na yan sarap na sarap sa pwesto.
— jason abalos (@thejasonabalos) September 24, 2020
He also reminded Arroyo and the other legislators that they need to follow the Constitution.
Bilang legislators kailangan nyo sundin ang constitution. Tapos sila lalabag? Aba mahusay :)
— jason abalos (@thejasonabalos) September 24, 2020
Despite Arroyo raising the possibility of postponing the elections, Comelec Sheriff Abas stated that they had never considered doing so.
“Because alam naman natin that this is a constitutional mandate at fixed yung nilagay (Because we know this is a constitutional mandate and it is fixed),” Abas said.
The Comelec is also thinking of holding the 2022 elections for two days instead of one day so they can regulate the number of voters in the precincts. /ra
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