Senate panel recommends postponement of barangay, SK polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate committee on local government has recommended the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election to October next year.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said he supports the postponement of the barangay and SK polls to give President Duterte enough time to complete his appointment of officials in government.

Pimentel pointed out that among the urgent measures Duterte has to accomplish this year is the appointment of new government officials to sensitive posts.

The President earlier issued Memorandum Circular No. 4 ordering the appointees in the Cabinet and various government agencies of former president Benigno Aquino III to vacate their posts within seven days starting Aug. 22.

“The President cannot appoint officials during the election period. Movement of personnel is also prohibited,” Pimentel said.

He also noted the position of the Commission on Elections to reset the barangay and SK elections, considering that the country had just concluded the May 9 polls.

The committee report, prepared by chairman Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, recommended that the barangay and SK election scheduled for this coming Oct. 31 be postponed to the last Monday of October 2017.

“Subsequent synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections shall be held every three years thereafter,” according to the report.

According to Angara’s communications officer Dennis Legaspi, a total of 17 senators, including Angara, have signed the report, which is expected to be presented before the plenary either on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Apart from Angara, the other senators who signed the committee report are Sens. Leila de Lima, Loren Legarda, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, Joel Villanueva, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Nancy Binay, Antonio Trillanes IV, Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon and Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III.

Sens. Risa Hontiveros, Richard Gordon and Minority Leader Ralph Recto all signed with reservations. Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said he would interpellate and propose amendments to the report.

The hearing on the issue was conducted jointly by the committees on local government, electoral reforms and people’s participation, and finance.

Angara noted the hearing on the issue revealed widespread support for the proposal.

One of the reasons given for the postponement of the barangay and SK polls is election fatigue, both by the Comelec and the electorate.