Comelec indefinitely suspends printing of barangay, SK poll ballots

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday decided not to resume the printing of ballots for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections despite the absence of a joint congressional resolution deferring the twin polls.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the poll body had ordered the National Printing Office (NPO) to suspend indefinitely the printing of official ballots.

Bautista said it is apparent that both the Senate and the House would pass a law resetting the elections originally scheduled in October.

On Monday, the Comelec stopped the printing of ballots after President Duterte said he liked the barangay and SK polls postponed.

 The Comelec had said the printing of ballots would resume yesterday should Congress fail to come up with a resolution postponing the Oct. 31 elections.

The NPO started printing on Aug. 21 and was expected to finish the 85 million ballots by Oct. 23.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez gave assurance that the 411,000 official ballots that have been printed “are being preserved and can still be used for future elections.”     

He said the ballots would only need minor amendments for the next polls. 

“We just need to amend the dates imprinted on the ballots. It’s not going to be a waste,” he said.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the bill postponing the barangay SK elections should be approved by the Senate next week or the second week of this month at the latest.

The bill was sponsored in the plenary on Wednesday by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on local government.

It is currently in the period of interpellation, after which, senators will introduce amendments.

“We are confident by Monday we will finish the process and add three more days for the third reading. Within the first week or 10 days of September we will have the bill passed in the Senate,” Pimentel said.

Under the bill, the barangay and SK elections would be postponed until the last Monday of October 2017.

Should the House decide to adopt the version of the Senate, Pimentel said this would facilitate the enrollment of the bill for signing by the President.

“I believe the House is monitoring the progress of the bill in the Senate. Since they have not started their hearings yet, I think they can start from the version of the Senate. That would simplify and shorten the process,” Pimentel said.

Meanwhile, Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said Congress’ plan to postpone the two elections would give President Duterte more time to focus and fast-track vital infrastructure projects.

“The accelerated infrastructure program that the new government intends to carry out will no longer be hampered by the public works ban that would have to be imposed if the polls were to push through,” Villafuerte said.

Among the reasons cited by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in the deferment of the polls are the inevitable appointments and construction ban, which prevents the government from implementing projects.

Villafuerte said the postponement would give the Comelec and its members time to relax, noting the twin polls would have been the second divisive political exercise after the May 9 presidential polls.

The lawmaker issued the statement as the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms headed by Cibac party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna plans to start deliberations on all pending measures aimed at postponing the polls on Sept. 5.

‘No holdover’ for village chiefs 

Barangay captains whose terms will end on Oct. 31 should not be allowed to stay in holdover capacity, opposition lawmakers proposed on Wednesday.

Lawmakers said these village chiefs should be replaced by officers-in-charge who will be appointed by President Duterte.

“The Senate wants a holdover, but for us it should only be for those who are competent and qualified. The misfits should be replaced. The OICs in the barangay should be appointed by the President,” House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez told journalists in a news conference.

Suarez said it would be up to the Office of the President, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, to assess and review the qualifications of the nominees.

Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza agreed with Suarez.

“There should be no extension (of terms). If we do that, it will look like we are rewarding those who are not performing well,” Atienza said.

He said this is the best time for the government to cleanse the villages of drugs. – With Delon Porcalla