Some Mindanao village execs: Postpone grassroots polls; Use funds for Marawi rehab instead

Some local organizations in Mindanao on Tuesday expressed support for the proposed postponement of the October 2017 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

In a public hearing in Davao City with Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials on Tuesday, some local heads appealed that the budget allotted for elections should be used to rehabilitate war-torn Marawi City instead.

"We will appeal na 'yung gagastusin po sa eleksyon ay idagdag na lang po sa pag-rehabilitate sa Marawi City. Tulungan po ninyo kami na makaahon po ang Marawi," said Maria Kamanakabanu, overall coordinator of the 96 barangays in Marawi City.

"On going pa po 'yung firefight between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and [ISIS-inspired groups]. Kahit magka-eleksyon, wala pong assurance na babalik 'yung mga taga-Marawi sa kabarangayan. Almost po lahat ng school buildings and government buildings ng Marawi City ay sira na po," she added.

This was echoed by Mike Niez, federation president of the 223 barangays in Davao del Norte.

"Kami po ay nagkakaisa na suportahan ang Presidente at papayag po kami na i-hold-over hanggang 2019. Ang dahilan po, number 1 kung may pera tayo instead na gastusin sa elections, itulong natin sa Marawi. Pangalawa, para ang gobyerno  ay maka-focus sa social at economic development," Niez said.

On the other hand, some local officials opposed the plan to postpone the October polls, noting that the Marawi situation is just an "isolated case."

"I have my petition, of our constituents, na they are not okay for the extension... Kung tingnan ho nating mabuti itong martial law, an isolated case that happens in Mindanao. We are here in Davao," said Rene Estorpe, one of the barangay heads in Davao City.

The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms earlier approved the proposed postponement of the October 2017 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to the second Monday of May 2018.

Under the consolidated measures approved by the committee, incumbent barangay officials will be on hold-over positions until they are replaced by their successors after the elections.

With the approval of the measure in the committee level, it will now move to the plenary for discussion.

Meanwhile, Comelec Commissioner Andres Bautista, in the Davao public hearing, also reminded the local government officials that the poll body was after ensuring an orderly election and not just postponing the polls.

"Ang kapangyarihan po ng Comelec ay limitado po sa omnibus election code na nagsasabi na pwede naming ipagpaliban ang eleksyon sa isang lugar kung 'di namin magagampanan ang aming papel na magkaroon ng maayos, malinis at kapani-paniwalang halalan," Bautista said.

"Kung meron kayong position papers tungkol sa bagay na ito, amin pong panawagan na isumite 'yan sa aming regional directors," he added. — MDM/KVD, GMA News