Senators have expressed varied opinions on the proposed
postponement of barangay elections supposedly set in October this year.
Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino said it is
important that the Filipino people are given the opportunity to choose their
leaders.
''Pag may postponement may holdover status and I think
in our laws, it does necessitate a hold over the status of elected officials.
They cannot just be removed because they are elected. There has to be proper
procedure because they are elected by the people and usually appointments are
not allowed," Aquino said.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III during a speech to
the Strategic Consultation and Workshop on Federalism, Barangay Reform, and
Role of Barangays in National Security Concerns organized by the Liga ng mga
Barangay (LNB) challenged barangay captains to clean their rank and to prove
President Rodrigo Duterte that there is no truth to the report that up to 40
percent of village leaders are involved in illegal drugs.
"If the report is wrong, then maybe there is no need to
discuss appointments to replace barangay officials," said Pimentel.
However, he added that the barangay chairmen would have to
prove to the President and the anti-drug agencies like Philippine National
Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency that there is no truth to the
report.
"So that is I think a challenge… to each and every one
of you," the Senate President said.
Pimentel said, "If the barangay is drug-infested,
heavily drug-infested, our intelligence community would believe that the
barangay leaders are involved in drugs… that is a reasonable conclusion."
Pimentel urged the barangay chiefs to show policymakers that
they are making a sincere effort to defeat the drug menace.
The President warned that the barangay elections is being
used by syndicates linked to the illegal drug trade as an avenue to protect
their interest.
Based on existing law, postponing the barangay elections
would need an amendment of the law for the President to be able to appoint
officials.
There are around 42,000 barangays in the country.
President Duterte believes that if elections were to be
held, candidates with links to drugs would win.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto earlier filed a bill
postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election to October 2018,
which he said will pave the way for the investigation of those allegedly linked
to the illegal drug trade.
Sotto filed Senate Bill 1469 last May 23 to postpone the
said election from the fourth Monday of October this year to the fourth Monday
of October next year.
Senator Francis Escudero said it is the prerogative of
Congress to fix the term of office of barangay officials and to set the
schedule of elections but at the same time he asked how long it will be
postpone.
“So will they be on hold over status or will they be
removed? And if they are removed who will make the appointment because we have
to remember that these are elected officials.
We have to acknowledge that they
were chosen by their constituents and we cannot just go against the will of the
people,” Escudero said as he maintained that he will wait for the Congress to
submit their justification and clarified that he is not opposing the
postponement as long as there is strong reason to support it.
Escudero also urged the Department of Interior and Local
Government to file the necessary charges against these barangay officials if
there is proof that they are in cahoots with drug syndicate in their respective
areas.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian criticized the DILG for not taking
the necessary action against these said barangay officials who were being
linked to the illegal drug trade.
Gatchalian said the idea of postponing barangay elections is
not acceptable as far as he is concerned citing the fact that this was the
second time the present administration asked for a postponement of elections.
“Ano nangyari sa loob ng isang taun? The original premise of
the first postponement was to remove the 40 percent barangay captains who are
supposedly involved in illegal drugs. Our question is, ano na ang nangyari doon
sa 40%. Tinangal na ba nila?” Gatchalian asked.
He demanded that the DILG give an update insisting that the
department was already given sufficient time to clean the barangay ranks.
Senator Franklin Drilon, for his part, said the people must
be allowed to vote for their leaders through the barangay and SK elections as
he expressed opposition to the possible postponement.
Drilon said the people must be allowed the opportunity to
choose their local leaders through an open and honest election. (SunStar Philippines)
Photo Credits: bamaquino.com; en.wikipedia.org; untvweb.com; rappler.com; politics.com.ph; gmanetwork.com
