Alvarez wants barangay, SK polls postponed

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez wants the Oct. 31 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections postponed.

“It would be more practical if we postpone the elections,” he told reporters yesterday during the budget hearing of the Department of Agriculture.

Alvarez told reporters yesterday President Duterte has yet to complete appointing officials in his government.

“If there is an election, the President is banned from issuing appointments,” he said. “He cannot remove and replace officials.”

Duterte has issued Memorandum Circular 4 compelling appointees of former president Benigno Aquino III to leave their posts.

Alvarez said the government does need a huge budget for the barangay elections.

“Considering that the executive branch still has a lot of appointments to be made, and they haven’t finished their screening process yet, I think it would be best to postpone the elections,” he said.

Alvarez said the House of Representatives and the Senate still have time to pass a joint resolution or a bill to postpone the October election.

“Between now and the end of October is a long time,” he said. “We can do it.” 

Alvarez said he would prefer that the two houses of Congress pass a joint resolution, which has the effect of a law.

“But if what is needed is a bill, we can approve it,” he said.

Leaders of Congress would have to agree on a date when the barangay-SK election would be held, Alvarez said.

Some House members are proposing the abolition of the SK.

Others want the barangay kagawad replaced by purok leaders.

There are several barangay election postponement bills pending in the House, including one filed by Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte.

Villafuerte filed his bill when Duterte was pushing for the amendment of the Constitution by an elected constitutional convention.

He proposed that the barangay election be postponed so it could be held together with the voting for con-con delegates next year and government could save money.

However, Duterte later changed his mind and supported the proposal of several congressional allies for Congress to convene as a constituent assembly (con-ass) to recommend constitutional amendments.

The con-ass mode could save the government at least P6 billion for the election of con-con delegates and an additional P3 billion for the operation of the convention for one year.

But Duterte’s decision to go for con-ass did not stop his House allies from moving for the postponement of the barangay and SK elections.

In a caucus early this month, they decided, by an overwhelming vote, to postpone the barangay vote.

Other House members want the October election to push through.

They said the appointments ban is a non-issue since the President could always seek an exemption from the Commission on Elections.

House Deputy Majority Leader Sherwin Tugna, chairman of the committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, said the leadership is setting a date for the initial hearing of proposals to postpone the upcoming polls.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers called on his colleagues to decide once and for all whether the barangay and SK elections next month should push through or be postponed.

“We are running out of time,” he said.

“Congress must decide within the next two weeks whether or not to push through with the barangay and SK elections.

“It would be a complete waste of government funds if they continue with the printing, and then Congress later decides to defer the elections.”  

While members of the super majority coalition held an informal caucus early this month to get the House’s sentiments on the issue, the chamber’s leaders clarified that there is no final and official decision yet to postpone next month’s barangay elections.

Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro told reporters that the consensus is not yet clear.

“It is not yet certain how many are in favor of postponing the barangay elections,” he said. “As of now, there is no decision yet.” 

He, along with fellow deputy speakers Miro Quimbo and Raneo Abu, personally wants the political exercise to push through because the government has allotted a budget and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is all set for the polls.

“We should push through with it. These barangay chairmen should have fresh mandates,” he said.