Duterte moves barangay, SK polls to May 2018

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law postponing the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to the second Monday of May next year.

The village polls were initially scheduled on October 23 this year.

Duterte signed Republic Act 10952 on October 2 but the signed copy of the law was released by the Palace on October 4.

The law states that the incumbent barangay and SK officials shall stay in office in holdover capacity until the new set of officers have been elected.

The term of elected barangay and SK officials will start on June 30.

The Commission on Elections welcomed the president's decision to postpone the polls.

“The Commission en Banc will be issuing the necessary Resolutions to effectuate this new law. In the meantime, we advise all deputized agencies and election partners to immediately begin ramping down their election related activities and await more detailed instructions and guidelines from the Commission on how to move forward,” Comelec Chairperson Andres Bautista said in a message to reporters. 

Duterte pushed for the postponement of barangay elections as he alleged that 40 percent of barangay officials are involved in the operation of illegal drugs.

He added that the postponement of barangay elections would keep errant officials in office.

It was the second time that barangay and SK elections were postponed amid concerns that drug lords will fund candidates. The polls were initially set in October last year.