Koko favors postponement of barangay, SK elections

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III today said he would propose to the Senate to reset this year's October 31 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections for at least one year.

Pimentel, president of the administration party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban), said he would call the Senate to pass a resolution to postpone the village polls.

The proposed Senate resolution would complement a similar move in the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Pantaleon Alavarez, to reset the scheduled elections for next year, said Pimentel.

He said among the urgent measures that President Duterte has to accomplish this year is the appointment of new government officials to man sensitive posts that would be temporarily shelved because of an election ban.

"The President cannot appoint officials during the election period. Movement of personnel is also prohibited," said Pimentel, adding the election ban would invariably affect the intensified fight against the drug menace.

The President earlier issued Memorandum Circular No. 4 ordering the appointees in the cabinet and various government agencies of former President Aquino to vacate their posts within a seven-day period starting August 22.

In a statement, Pimentel also cited the favourable position of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to reset the election because of its proximity to the last national and local polls held only in May this year.

He said Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate local government committee, also favoured the postponement of the village polls after conducting a hearing with stakeholders and other government officials recently.

"The consensus is to postpone the elections. I believe there are valid reasons to do so," said Pimentel, citing several pending bills filed in both chambers of Congress to reschedule the polls.