Palace welcomes Senate bill postponing barangay, SK elections

Malacañang is optimistic about the passage of the law on the postponement the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections following the recent Senate approval of the measure.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said they expect the two chambers of Congress to harmonize their versions of the bill on the barangay poll postponement.

“The Palace welcomes the approval of Senate Bill No 1584, or the Act Postponing the October 2017 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections, on its third and final reading,” Abella said.

“We hope for the immediate enactment of the law and call on our citizens to support the measure as the Senate and the House of Representatives go for a bicameral conference to start working and harmonize their versions of the bill,” he said.

The Senate recently passed a bill postponing the barangay and SK polls from October this year to May 2018 after receiving a certification of the bill as urgent from President Duterte. The senators, however, removed the provision that would let the President appoint officers-in-charge in barangays. The incumbent barangay officials, instead, will keep their positions until the next polls are held.

The House earlier approved a bill postponing the barangay polls to May 2018. The bill also allows barangay officials to remain in a holdover position.

The President earlier pushed for the postponement of the October 2017 barangay and SK polls to prevent the influence of drug money in the polls. Duterte, however, refused to accept the power to appoint the officers-in-charge in barangays to dispel speculations he was holding too much power.

“The President’s stance remains clear and consistent: He wants the barangay and SK elections to be postponed,” Abella said.

The Senate approved on third and final reading its version of the bill postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections with a vote of 17-1, passing Senate bill No. 1584.

Of the senators present, only Senator Risa Hontiveros opposed the approval of the bill. Sen. Antonio Trillanes earlier said he would also vote “no” but left the Senate session before the third reading. (With a report from VanneTerrazola)