Vote wisely

An estimated 60 million adults and minors will troop to various polling precincts in the country to cast their votes and elect their barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials today. In the 2016 elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported that there were 54.4 million registered voters. But with the participation of those between the ages of 15 and 17 for the SK election, the country’s voting population rose.

Positions at stake are barangay captain and seven councilors, and the SK chairman and seven SK council members.

The last SK election was in 2010 yet. There was a call to abolish it altogether because of some controversies. But Congress revived it with the passage of a new law that will govern and guide young voters.

The SK serves a very noble purpose. It was created as a training ground for the country’s future leaders. It’s an organization for those who want to learn about politics and hone their knowledge to become future leaders. The young are basically principled until they are influenced by politicians and they become like the latter. Let’s see if the revived and reformed SK will really serve its purpose and mandate.

Under the Local Government Code, local government units (LGU) are mandated to elect presidents of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and SK federation presidents who will sit as ex-officio members of the council. They are entitled numerations and allowances like an elected official.

Don’t take for granted today’s elections because we will be electing barangay officials who will run the affairs of the barangay. The barangay

The Local Government Code bestowed “awesome” powers on the barangay captain, which may have inadvertently corrupted the latter

is the basic government unit where community politics starts. We should elect candidates who are capable of performing and exercising the functions, duties and responsibilities in the barangay.

Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of the Philippines (Book 111) Chapter 2, specifies the role and creation of the barangay.

In the 1950s and ‘80s before the passage of the Local Government Code (LGC), the duties and functions of the barangay captain, or teniente del barrio, were limited to settling conflicts in barangay like domestic quarrels. His word was considered law.

But upon the passage of the LGC, the barangay captain now possesses awesome powers. He performs the powers of the executive, legislative and judiciary rolled into one. And because of his awesome powers, the village chief and other barangay officials become corrupt.

I remember the story my idol, fellow SunStar columnist and rado dyCM broadcaster Atty. Frank Malilong, told me a couple of years ago.

Frank said he had a client who wanted to establish a memorial garden in one of the barangays in Talisay City. When they applied for barangay permits, the barangay council told them to comply with a few requirements. But the council did not act on their application despite compliance. Then they learned that barangay officials were demanding “under the table.” Frank said barangay coucilors were demanding P500,000 each, while the barangay captain wanted P1 million just to approve their application. Atty. Malilong’s client abandoned the project.

So, don’t vote for corrupt barangay officials. Vote wisely.