Plebiscite ahead of May 2025 polls unlikely – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — A plebiscite for Charter Change within the year or ahead of the May 2025 midterm elections is unlikely, according to the Commission on Elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia explained yesterday: “We’re running out of time getting ready for the elections in 2025. So, to conduct a plebiscite before the end of the year… it’s a little tight for the Comelec.”

“It’s already March. There’s still the procurement, preparations. It will not be possible to have a plebiscite this year,” Garcia added.

He made the statement in reaction to the call of some legislators to hold the plebiscite ahead of the scheduled May 2025 NLE.

Garcia, however, stressed that Comelec is obliged to conduct the plebiscite whenever mandated by Congress.

Concerning questions on the legality of holding a simultaneous plebiscite with the NLE, he said it is premature to discuss the matter.

At this time, Garcia said, the Senate and House of Representatives are still debating the proposed simultaneous plebiscite with the NLE polls.

He said the Senate wants the two electoral activities to be held at the same time, while Congress wants them to be conducted separately.

“We at the Comelec will obey the order of the Senate and House of Representatives,” Garcia said.

If mandated by both houses of Congress, he said the Comelec is ready to hold the plebiscite together with the NLE.

“If allowed to happen simultaneously, that is a legal and political issue, which the Comelec cannot interfere,” he explained. Garcia said the Comelec will respect the decision of the political departments.

But Garcia said the Supreme Court still has the final say on the legality of holding the plebiscite at the same time as the midterm elections.

Close to a million aspiring voters have already registered for the May 2025 NLE, the Comelec reported yesterday.

Comelec data showed that since the resumption of voter registration last Feb. 12, a total of 910,918 aspiring voters have submitted their applications.

The biggest number of applicants came from Calabarzon with 165,702; followed by Metro Manila with 140,638.

Central Luzon ranked third with 98,976 applicants, while Central Visayas followed with 70,972 and