‘Barangay polls always target for postponement’

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comeleec) is not surprised that there is a proposal to postpone the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls again.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said calls to defer the elections are expected as the date of the political exercise approaches.

“If moves to... postpone... are initiated, it should not really be surprising... Historically, barangay and SK elections have always been a target for postponement for one reason or another,”  Jimenez said.

Republic Act 10952, which postponed the Oct. 23, 2017 barangay and SK polls to the second Monday of May 2018, set the next elections on the second Monday of May next year.

This means those elected in last year’s polls will serve for only two years instead of three as the term of former officials were extended twice.

After next year’s elections, the term of office of winning candidates will be back to three years.

Senator-elect Christopher “Bong” Go said he would move for the deferment of the barangay and SK elections to enable incumbent officials to serve for four years.

The National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel)  expressed its strong objection to the proposal, saying it is against the norms of democracy.

Namfrel secretary-general Eric Alvia said elections must have regularity as it one of the ways to assess the performance of local leaders.

The Comelec said it has started preparing for the barangay and SK elections.

The voter registration will be held from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.