HAPPY WEEKEND

Special elections in MP needed
GINA DIZON

And so Kalinga solon Manuel Agyao is now sitting as caretaker-solon representing Mountain Province, in place of the late Rep. Victor Victor Dominguez who died February this year. He must be grinning from ear to ear, what with the move of Mountain Province politicians who endorsed Baguio solon Mauricio Domogan who traces his roots from Mountain Province to assume the role of the temporary caretaker position.

Surely people from Mountain Province also don’t like it that someone not from Mountain Province and not even a voter of the province is assuming such a privileged position. What good tidings will he bring?

Agyao’s appointment as caretaker was based from House Rules adapted in the appointment of caretakers whereby the lawmaker is appointed with the same political affiliation and closest in terms of the geographical location to the province. Now the question is the duration of the term of Agyao being a temporary caretaker-solon for Mountain Province .
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I am reminded of the state of Bangladesh now which is under a caretaker government. Under the law of Bangladesh , the caretaker government shall exercise its powers within three months. Bangladesh however is still under a caretaker government since its assumption late last year. Whatever happened, the situation says the law can be abused, meaning it can be stretched or limited depending on who is pulling the strings.

But that is Bangladesh . What we shall talk about is more on Philippine politics. Focus: Mountain Province. Up to when will Agyao stay as caretaker? For sure, he will not stay there until the coming of the May 2010 elections, him being in a caretaker position.

What are the conditions of his term of office? The people should know otherwise, it is going to be eventually accepted that Agyao will stay as a temporary caretaker until the May 2010 elections. And that is 22 months away from May 2010. This composes 65 percent of a three year full term which is nearly that of a full term. There is much to do in that duration. A regular representative would better be elected.

That is why a special election is needed the soonest possible time. For sure, there is no situation for a clear and present danger nor a political crisis for Mountain Province constituents to be denied this political and civil right as soon as possible. Otherwise, the government is denying a basic political right for citizens to elect their officials to represent them.