Comelec to decide next week on October polls postponement

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will decide next week if the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in Mindanao will be postponed as martial law remains in effect in the south, an official said yesterday.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they have to wait for the position papers of the stakeholders who attended a public hearing in Davao City.

Jimenez said non-government organizations and civil society groups as well as representatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) attended the event.

The PNP favored the postponement of the barangay and SK elections in Mindanao as government forces were still fighting members of the Maute group in Marawi City.

Last July, Congress granted President Duterte’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao until Dec. 31.

The poll body held the public hearing to get the sentiments of the stakeholders.

While Congress has not officially deferred the barangay and SK polls scheduled this October, the Comelec said more than 15,000 official ballots have been printed at the National Printing Office.

Jimenez said the ballots are intended for the province of Batanes. 

The Comelec needs to print a total of 77,261,086 ballots for the barangay SK polls.

Earlier, Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna asked the Comelec to slow down its preparations pending the decision of Congress on the postponement of the elections. 

National Youth Commission chair Aiza Seguerra said postponing the SK elections would deprive the youth of representation in the government.

Seguerra urged the Duterte administration not to postpone the polls. –With Christina Mendez