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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Thursday, March 15, 2018
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MANILA – Two senators found no need to further postpone the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled in May this year.
The House of Representatives suffrage and electoral reforms committee has voted to move the polls to Oct. 8.
“As far as the Senate is concerned, tuloy ang barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan elections sa Mayo,” Sen. Nancy Binay said.
On the other hand, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said further postponing the elections “will not achieve anything.”
“Binigyan na ng two years to file cases eh. So to extend it for another four to five months will not do anything,” he said.
Binay urged Malacañang to fill the three vacancies at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to negate the need to postpone the elections.
“Hindi na po natin kailangan ipagpaliban pa ang barangay elections kung pupunan ng Malacañang ang mga bakante sa Comelec,” she said.
Filling the vacancies will also ensure “smooth preparations for the May 14 barangay polls,” she added.
Last year Andres Bautista resigned as Comelec chairman as he was set to face impeachment hearings.
Just this February, the terms of commissioners Christian Robert Lim and Arthur Lim have expired.
This leaves Comelec with four active officials – commissioners Sheriff Abas, Rowena Guanzon, Luie Tito Guia, and Al Parreño.
The vacant commissioner spots are an “urgent concern,” Binay said.
In 2016 President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress to move the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to October 2017, saying that drug money may be used in the campaign.
In August 2017, the elections were again rescheduled to May 2018.
Candidates vying for barangay posts have long prepared for the elections, Gatchalian said.
“At the same, Comelec already stated na gumastos na sila sa preparations,” he said. “So postponing it again will be a waste of money.”/PN
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