Senate to tackle postponement of barangay, SK polls in resumption of session

The Senate has yet to decide on a measure postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to a later date, just four months before the scheduled polls in October.

In a text message, Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on local government, said the Senate has yet to discuss the proposal, as Congress is on a sine die break.

“We probably need to discuss it either in committee or in a caucus but given it’s a recess, mahirap ngayon i-discuss dahil hiwa-hiwalay ang mga senador,” Angara said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had called on Congress to decide on the issue to avoid wasting money during the preparations for the conduct of polls.

Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said they “will have a better sense by July 24 after enough consultations have been done.”

Congress will resume session on July 24, before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his second state of the nation address.

It was Sotto who filed Senate Bill 1469 to postpone the barangay and SK elections from the fourth Monday of October this year to the fourth Monday of October 2018.

The senator said the proposal was in “answer to the appeal of President Duterte.”

Duterte earlier alleged that 40 percent of barangay captains nationwide are involved in illegal drugs. He said he was considering appointing barangay captains, instead of pushing through with the elections.

“In answer to the appeal of President Duterte, this measure postponing the October 2017 Barangay is being proposed. In this way, the investigation and validation for the possible link to illegal drugs of the 40 percent of the barangay captains nationwide shall not be hampered,” Sotto said in his resolution. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/RSJ/KVD, GMA News