Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri on Wednesday, July 28, raised alarm over the possibility that less Filipino voters will participate in the 2022 elections due to the prevailing threat of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a privilege speech, Zubiri bared the result of a Pulse Asia survey he commissioned, which found that about 46 percent of Filipino adults would not be going out to vote if the number of COVID-19 cases in their communities is high on May 9, 2022.
Of the respondents asked last June on whether or not they will go out and vote, 35 percent said they will, while 19 percent were undecided.
Most of those who will opt not to cast their vote for fear of the coronavirus were from the National Capital Region, at 57 percent; and from other parts of Luzon, at 50 percent.
“Hindi po natin sila masisisi kung ganun ang kanilang pangamba at posisyon. Inaalala lang po nila ang kanilang kaligtasan kaligtasan ng kanilang pamilya. Mas mahalaga naman po talaga ang buhay kaysa sa pagboto (We cannot blame them for their fear and position. They were just thinking of their safety and their family. Lives, anyway, are more important than votes),” Zubiri said.
"Kaya lang po, nakakatakot lang dahil posible po na ang mahahalal na mga lider ng bansa, magmula sa presidente hanggang sa konsehal ng bayan, ay hindi man lamang nagmula sa boto ng mayorya ng mga botanteng Filipino (But I am just worried because it is possible that the leaders who will be elected in the country, from the president down to local councilors, will not represent the majority of the Filipino voters)," he raised.
The senator, who earlier said he will run for reelection in 2022, said election results from a low voter turnout would be "unacceptable".
“Mahalaga po na ang magiging resulta ng eleksyon sa susunod na taon ay (It's important that the results of next year's elections are) reflective of the true wishes of the electorate...for it to become a credible election," he pointed out.
Zubiri appealed to the government to fast track the distribution and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, especially in provinces.
He also called on authorities to continue its efforts in addressing vaccine hesitancy, citing a recently-released Pulse Asia poll showing that a significant rate of Filipino adults still refuse to get jabbed, even if vaccines are available.
Vaccination, he maintained, is the "only key" to economic recovery.
“My fear is that if we are unable to meet our target by the end of the year, this does not only pose a bigger threat to the health, safety and lives of our people, and our economy, but also to our electoral system,” Zubiri said.
Meanwhile, he also asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to come up with measures to ensure the observance of health protocols, and to consider extending the election "beyond one day" to avoid overcrowding in polling precincts. But the Comelec said is more inclined to extend voting hours than hold a multi-day election.