SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano stood firm on Wednesday on his proposal to conduct snap elections, stating that he is willing to be the first to step down, provided his colleagues follow suit.
Cayetano acknowledged that his call is unlikely to be heeded, but emphasized his preference for discussing “transformation and revival” instead of resorting to people power or revolution amid ongoing allegations of widespread corruption within the government.
“Pangungunahan ko, payag ako mauna. No problem doon… Mauna means lahat kami,” he said during a press conference, clarifying that his offer to resign first is contingent on all other elected officials doing the same.
Cayetano argued that a collective sacrifice is needed to restore trust in the government. He posed the question: “are you willing to volunteer yourself?” to his fellow lawmakers, suggesting that a clean slate is necessary to address the current crisis.
Cayetano’s proposal for snap elections, which would include the President, Vice President, Senate, and Congress, with no incumbents allowed to run in the subsequent election, has been met with resistance.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III dismissed the idea, citing the lack of a constitutional or legal framework for snap elections. The Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia has also stated that the poll body cannot hold snap elections without a specific law mandating it. Malacañang has described Cayetano’s proposal as “wishful thinking.”
