It is the second postponement of the barangay
and Sangguniang Kabataan elections since the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. The
elections was supposed to be held in October 31, 2016 but moved to October 23,
2017 and then held off until May 14, 2018, thus, giving the incumbents near five years of
public office and political power.
Before Duterte signed the postponement bill,
the Commission on Elections already spent some P850 million in the printing of
ballots. Here’s hoping these printed electoral materials could still be used in
the next elections otherwise another waste of public funds which could have
instead be utilized for other humane programs such as additive to Marawi City
rehabilitation. Action on such reasonable postponement or political mind-setting should be foreseeable
or synchronized before the scheduled slate so efforts and resources are
unwasted.
What is the reason for the postponement: It’s
purging local officials involved in illegal drug trade. Duterte said he has to
update the narco-politics lists, not wanting that illegal drug trade would
influence the result of the barangay and SK elections.
On the other hand, Rene Sarmiento, chair of
the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting welcomed the postponement,
saying it was a prudent decision as this would allow all stakeholders to focus
on other pressing matters, adding that it is a high relief from uncertainty
surrounding the fate of the elections.
Naturally, we expect the Liga ng mga Barangay
to favor the postponement… for obvious reason, of course. Top barangay
incumbent heads say this will give them more time to pursue unfinished
business. They better do accomplish the unfinished agenda or they be the ones
to be purged for incompetencies… for one, they have to clear their communities
from the pangs of illegal drug trade.
Anyhow, even if the elections have not been
postponed, the Mindanao island is excluded from the political exercise after
the COMELEC passed a resolution to this effect due to terror threat or
“security reasons.”
So the barangay governments have another year
to resolve problems besetting their communities or come out with developmental
frameworks for future pursuits of stakeholders. If the election deferment is
due to drug threat and whatever uncertainties, then the menace or crisis
situation have to be eliminated given the time span until the next suffrage.
Under democratic paradigm, the point is
clear, the posts for barangay officials are determined/decided by the people
through elections. The postponement is just a temporary arrangement until the
coast is clear for sailing. Let us give a hand in clearing the coast from
clogs. – (MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
