Duterte to use military if 2022 polls not orderly

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has warned he may be forced to tap “the might of the military” to ensure “peaceful and violence-free” national elections in 2022.

“I’m pleading, almost praying, that people will really stick to the rule of law and avoid violence because if not, I’ll go ahead, I will be forced to use the might of the military, not for any purpose but to see to it that the election is peaceful and violence-free,” Duterte said in a speech in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat on Friday evening.

“This is my message to all, either we have an election that is free or I will use the military to see that the election is free,” the President said.

“The military is the guardian of our country and I could call them anytime to see to it that people are protected and elections are freely, orderly exercised,” he said.

Duterte made the appeal ahead of the filing of certificates of candidacy on Oct. 1 to 8.

Under the Commission on Elections’ Resolution No. 10481, the poll body can take full control and supervision of all national and local officials in the area and can exercise control over all law enforcement agencies as well as the military when peace and order in an area is seen to affect the conduct of the elections.

The Chief Executive also expressed hope there would be no rigging of votes.“I hope the elections in the entire Philippines will be peaceful and people can vote freely for their candidates – and that the votes will be counted correctly,” the President said. “Nobody wants trouble, nobody wants cheating,” he added.

The national elections will be held on May 9, 2022.

The election period runs from Jan. 9 until June 8, 2022. During this period, “bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons, unless authorized in writing by Comelec,” is prohibited.

So far, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno have announced their presidential bids.

Vice President Leni Robredo is seriously considering running for president but has yet to make an official announcement.

Duterte, on the other hand, has officially accepted his nomination as the vice presidential bet of the PDP-Laban faction headed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. A total of 18,180 elective positions are at stake in next year’s elections.

Comelec, meanwhile, assured the President it is closely working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to ensure orderly and peaceful elections next year.

“It should also be noted that, in those instances where violent incidents threaten the integrity of the elections, the poll body has the authority to take such steps as may be necessary to address the situation, including but not limited to the imposition of Comelec control on specific parts of the country,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

He also said top officials of the poll body will convene a management committee meeting to discuss calls for extension of voters’ registration, especially how an extension can affect the filing of certificates of candidacy. Based on the original timeline, voter registration is set to end on Sept.30. – Robertzon Ramirez