DILG urged to defer special SK elections

Citing unresolved issues concerning the recent elections of officers of the Liga ng mga Barangay and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation in Pasay City, Mayor Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad yesterday urged the Department of Interior and Local Government to defer a special SK elections the latter initiated.

In a letter to DILG city Director Maria Luisa Echavia, Trinidad said that in fact, election of officers of the SK Federation of Pasay City have already been held on Nov. 11 which was also treated as their 1st General Assembly. “The officers of the Panlungsod ng Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan was duly elected by a vote of more than 3/4 of the membership which election was duly certified by the Comelec Registrar of Pasay City,” Trinidad said.

Though two petitions for the nullification of the elections of the President of the Liga ng mga Barangay and that of the SK Federation president were filed by the complainants, the Court however, in a Joint Order, ruled in favor of not issuing a temporary restraining order denying the prayer in the petitions.

Trinidad also said that by operation of law, the duly elected SK officers led by its President Jon Wilfred Trinidad and Liga ng mga Barangay officers led by its president Charlie Chavez assumed office starting Nov. 30.

“On Dec. 4, a Notice of Assumption to Office was forwarded to the Office of the Presiding Officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod by Jon Trinidad. The same thing was done by Charlie Chavez. They were duly recognized as such by the vice mayor and presiding officer Antonino Calixto. Thus, under the said circumstances a clear right to the position was already created,” the letter read.

Trinidad likewise said that prior to the said assumption of office, former City Director Camilo Borja submitted a special report to the Office of DILG National Capital Region director Robert Abejero regarding the elections held on Nov. 11 which is the subject of his comment addressed to Abejero. “This incident has not been resolved by the concerned office of the DILG,” he said.

Even the past president of the SK Federation Brian Kristiann Bayona wrote Echavia a letter informing the latter that the young Trinidad was elected SK Federation president and that the necessary turn-over of his position has already been made.

Lawyer Anthonette Soriano likewise notified Echavia that the holding of the referred election, scheduled to be held today, will just be a redundant exercise since last Nov. 11, after a mass oath-taking ceremony of more than a majority of all the elected SK Chairmen and there being a quorum, they decided the holding of the election of officers.

“It is therefore recommended that the results of such election be upheld unless set aside by the proper judicial authority,” Soriano said.