CEBU Governor Hilario Davide III has welcomed the new law postponing the synchronized barangay elections from October 23, 2017 to the second Monday of May 2018.
Davide was also glad that Republic Act 10953 signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last Wednesday, did not entail the appointment of interim barangay officials.
“I’m OK with that as long as they don’t appoint barangay officials. I’m against that,” said Davide, who strongly believes that the “people deserve the right to elect their barangay officials” since they’re the ones suited to elect them because they know them.”
Celestino A. Martinez III, president of the Association of Barangay Councils – Cebu Federation (ABC – Cebu), also favored the postponement of the barangay and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections as it will give more time for incumbent village officials to finish their projects.
“Postponing the elections provides a little more time especially for those barangay officials who are on their last term to finish their projects and programs,” Martinez told CDN in a text message.
Following Duterte’s approval of the postponement of the twin polls, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista has ordered the suspension of all activities in relation to the barangay elections.
“Adjustments will be made to the Comelec’s current preparations, taking the new date of elections into consideration… Work goes on for us,” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez.