Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that at least P40 billion, a law and two years of preparation will be needed for a snap election, as called for by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
“Mukhang kailangan po ng Constitutional amendment and/ or law,” Garcia stated, adding that an automated election will entail about P40 billion while a manual one would cost about P20 billion.
Garcia said that during the midterm polls in May, the total expenses reached P36 billion.
According to Comelec spokesman Atty. John Rex Laudiangco, the issue rests with the political branches and government, or the Legislative and Executive Departments.
“Ang ating Saligang Batas ang siyang malinaw na nagtatakda ng regular na pagsasagawa ng Halalang Pambansa, kasama na ang Pampanguluhan, na ang kasunod ay sa Mayo ng 2028. Ang Commission on Elections, bilang tagapagpatupad at administrador lamang ng mga batas panghalalan, ay obligadong gawin ang kanyang tungkulin kung magkakaroon man ng batas na nagtatakda ng naturang snap elections,” Laudiangco said.
He added that during the 1986 Snap Presidential Elections, the polls were carried out by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 883 (December 13, 1985).
“Kaya kung may maipapasang batas ukol dito, hiling lamang ng COMELEC ay mabigyan ng sapat na panahon at pondo upang maghanda dahil ang nababanggit na halalan ay Pambansang Halalan na nangangailangan ng sapat at maayos na paghahanda. Muli, ang COMELEC ay hindi parte ng political branches of government, at mananatiling neutral at apolitical, at magpapatupad lamang ng mga Halalan ayon sa Saligang Batas at iba pang batas pambansa at lokal, na siya ding naiakda ayon sa ating Konstitusyon,” Laudiangco explained.
