Senate called on to act on polls: Comelec-Cebu funds ‘depleting’

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections-Cebu needs additional budget to replenish its depleting funds if this year’s elections would be postponed to May next year.

Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Cebu election supervisor, said his office no longer has budget to facilitate the polls next year.

"Kun i-postpone naman gani ni nato by next year, kuwang na ang among budget nga allocated kay we are now spending for the elections. Kun nag kuwang na we need additional budget for next year," he said.

Castillano said his office has already spent for the printing of voters' master list; and the purchase and transportation of supplies, such as pens and inks, among others.

Comelec-Cebu is asking Congress anew to resolve the issue on the proposed deferment of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls so it will not incur more expenses.

"By this time, the law postponing the elections should have already been passed," Castillano said.

If elections would be postponed anew to next year, he said, Comelec will reprint ballots.

Printing and sealing of election ballots have been moved to September 9 from the supposed August 23 schedule.

The elections will continue unless the Congress otherwise enacts a law postponing the elections.

At present, the existing law cites that barangay and SK elections are set on October 23, 2017.

Secretary Adelino Sitoy, former Cordova vice mayor and now head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, said the Senate will deliberate on the bill by the first week of September.

"And if President (Rodrigo) Duterte voices out, I'm sure the Senate will reach to a majority," Sitoy said.

Early this year, Duterte said he wanted the elections postponed and that he would rather appoint persons qualified to become village officials.

Duterte said money that will be used during the campaign for the elections might come from illegal drugs. (FREEMAN)