Duterte’s poll plan sparks debate

Community leaders should have a chance to clear their name before being removed from office, Lima says

Aplan by President Rodrigo Duterte to call off the October grass-roots elections has drawn mixed reactions, with one ally of the leader saying the postponement in the political exercise is necessary to edge out narco-politicians.

“I have no problem with the President’s plan to call off the barangay [village] elections in October. That is necessary because majority of village officials are involved in illegal drugs and these dirty politicians will only use the elections to give themselves a mantle of legitimacy with a mandate from the people,” House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said.

The Philippines has some 42,000 village chairpersons who ideally should manage the day-to-day affairs of their communities, from settling local disputes among neighbours to providing health, sanitation and other government services.

Earlier, Duterte warned that if the October barangay elections would push through, many village officials with ties to the drug trade would likely get reelected. The President said that instead of holding the polls, he just wanted to appoint village leaders who can provide leadership to their community and not politicians who have ties with drug syndicates.

Village elections are held every three years in the country and while the conduct of grass-roots polls is prescribed every three years under the country’s laws, there have been instances when elections were cancelled and previous officials were allowed to serve extended terms.

A slight tweak in law

Alvarez said Duterte’s plan to appoint village leaders can be implemented through amendment of the Local Government Code so that such a move would not violate the constitution.

The Speaker said the necessary amendment can be proposed and tackled when Congress resumes session this coming May 2.

Duterte’s arch critic, Senator Leila de Lima, however, slammed the President’s proposal to appoint community leaders instead of electing them. De Lima also slammed the proposal to declare all barangay positions vacant as part of the administration’s war on drugs.

She said she believes that the declaration violates an official’s right to due process. “They have every right for a chance to clear their name before being removed from office”