Liga ng mga Barangay opposes P10k contribution
THE Liga ng mga Barangay ng Pilipinas (LBP) filed an urgent motion for reconsideration seeking to prevent the Commission on Elections ( Comelec) on implementing Resolution 9739, which mandates all barangays in the country to set aside P10,000 to augment Monday’s Barangay Elections.
LBP national president and Caloocan City councilor RJ Echiverri filed a motion for reconsideration before the Manila Regional Trial Court ( RTC) branch 6 which questioned the validity of the poll body’s resolution, insisting it is “barely unconstitutional since it is patently against the Omnibus Election Code.”
The Manila RTC earlier denied the LBP’s request for a temporary restraining order against the said resolution issued by the Comelec en banc.
Echiverri said that the Comelec should postpone the barangay polls because most barangays could no longer afford to share the responsibility of financing the elections since most of their funds allotted for the year have already been spent.
“It is unfair to let the smallest units of the government shoulder the financial aspect of the elections and even be in violation of the Equal Rights Protection Law. It should be the Comelec’s responsibility,” Echiverri said.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said that the required contribution which was implemented last July is in accordance with the law which requires all barangays to set aside no less than P10,000 from their general funds to help defray election expenses.
Brillantes said that all violators will face penalties but added that they are considerate in the areas affected by the recent magnitude 7.2 killer quake that devastated the province of Bohol.
“Bohol is a special case since nilindol ang mga tao doon but aside from that, all other barangays should abide by the resolution,” Brillantes said.
The poll body will gather a total of P1.2 billion from the contribution of 42,028 barangays to replenish the agency’s funding. (John Carlo Cahinhinan/ Sunnex)