Carpio: Cayetano's snap election proposal may be unconstitutional

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio stated that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano's proposal for snap elections, which includes disqualifying incumbent politicians from running, may be unconstitutional.

Carpio explained that a blanket disqualification of all elected officials without lawful cause would likely be challenged and deemed unconstitutional, emphasizing there is no legal basis to prevent incumbent officials from running.

He elaborated that preventing anyone from running would require passing a law, which he believes would also be unconstitutional.

Political analyst Jean Encinas-Franco suggested that Cayetano's call for resignations to trigger special elections could invite instability.

Cayetano's scenario involved the resignation of the President, Vice President, and lawmakers, followed by snap elections where no incumbent official would be allowed to run for one election cycle, citing a loss of trust in government due to probes on anomalous flood control projects.