The Senate, voting 17-1 with Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros casting the lone negative vote, on Wednesday passed on third and final reading the bill postponing to October 2018 the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Senate Bill No. 1584 by Senators Richard Gordon and Vicente “Tito” Sotto had cited these grounds for postponement: the armed conflict in Marawi City, the extension of the proclamation of Martial Law in Mindanao, and the prevalence of illegal drugs.
Besides objecting to the deferment of the polls which should be held next month–and for which the Commission on Elections has started preparations–Hontiveros also opposed the plan to grant President Rodrigo Duterte power to appoint barangay officials, and the inclusion of the names of the barangay officials in the drug list as sufficient basis for the appointment of officers in charge (OICs).
“This is putting too much power in the hands of the President. Postponing yet again and without sufficient basis the people’s democratic process of choosing our barangay leaders and substituting it with the executive power to appoint barangay officials is tantamount to making President Duterte king,” Hontiveros said.
She added that “in such a scenario, the barangay system, which we take pride in as a form of direct democracy, becomes an enclave of an authoritarian leader, and its officials, his loyal subjects accountable only to him.”
The House of Representatives had earlier approved the postponement to March 2018.
The Gordon-Sotto bill bears certain controversial provisions such as granting the President the power, through the Executive Secretary to appoint barangay officials.
Hontiveros argued that there is no need to grant the President appointing authority in case of vacancy in the barangay. She explained that the Local Government Code provides for succession in case of vacancy, and provides for grounds for suspension and removal of erring barangay officials and available mechanisms/remedies to ensure due process.
She argued there is no need to give the President additional disciplinary power over incumbent barangay officials included in the confirmed and validated drug list, as these can be charged anyway.
“If there is substantial evidence against certain barangay officials, proper charges can be filed based on Republic Act No. 9165 and the proper court can cause the suspension/removal of the said official. And if found guilty of violating the said law, the barangay officials can be permanently disqualified by the court from holding public office,” Hontiveros said.