Party members

Barangay officials are supposed to be non-partisan. So why are they joining the PDP-Laban? Election watchdogs are asking this question as village officials scramble to join the administration party, with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections expected to finally push through this year.

In reality, barangay officials have always served as grassroots leaders of political parties, usually whichever is in power. The officials openly campaign during elections, and act as informal vote watchdogs at polling centers for their political parties. Barangay officials have been accused of directly buying votes for politicians and their parties.

There is another advantage in joining the current ruling party, as far as some barangay officials are concerned: it could save them from the possible consequences of inclusion in President Duterte’s list of officials linked to drug trafficking. Whether this belief is valid is uncertain. Barangay officials have been among the thousands of suspects killed since the start of the war on drugs. A number of the fatalities were deemed to be supporters of the Duterte administration.

A Supreme Court ruling allowed barangay officials to engage in campaigning and other partisan political activities, explaining that this is unavoidable for elective officials. But even if the officials can campaign for themselves, they are still barred from membership in a party.

The court ruling should not stop authorities from enforcing the law and imposing sanctions on those who break the law. Commission on Elections officials have always warned village officials that they are prohibited by law from joining political parties. Members of Congress should set the example in complying with the law, and keep out barangay officials from their political parties. And the Comelec must not hesitate to impose sanctions on those who break the rules.