Comelec in full blast for SK, brgy. polls
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is going full blast with its preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls on Oct. 31.
This after Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said that the planned constitutional convention (con-con) is no longer happening, thus, the forthcoming elections will push through as scheduled.
“Their direction is to have a constituent assembly... that is why it appears that the Oct. 31 elections will push through,” he added.
The poll body chief said that he was told by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, that the amendment of the 1987 Constitution will be done but through a constituent assembly (con-ass).
“I talked to Speaker Alvarez yesterday and I asked him about the possibility of simultaneously holding the barangay and SK elections and the con-Con. He said the direction is to have a constituent assembly.”
Bautista earlier pushed for the postponement of the barangay and youth polls and synchronized with the election of delegates for the proposed con-con that would result to a surplus of at least P6 million for the government.
Likewise, some lawmakers have supported the proposal. They are looking to hold the con-Con in January 2017.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday has changed his mind, saying that amendments in the 1987 Constitution can just be done with Congress sitting as a Constituent Assembly.