According to Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag, who was in Bacolod City yesterday and met with Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. at the Provincial Capitol, the 2019 midterm elections would only be postponed as a result of a plebiscite, similar to a public referendum.

“There would be so much debate,” the PCOO official said.

Banaag also declined to comment on the possible holdover capacity of government officials during the transition, saying the statement only came about because of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

“It’s up for Congress to decide,” she added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said there is no reason to stop the scheduled elections in 2019, adding President Rodrigo Duterte is also against postponing the polls./DGB, WDJ