Comelec studying President Duterte’s call for postponement of barangay polls anew

An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the commission is studying the implications of the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to postpone anew the barangay polls. (PCOO photo)

MANILA—An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the commission is studying the implications of the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to postpone anew the barangay polls.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez believed that they should look at the effects of moving again the village polls to another date.

“What is being studied is what are the ramifications of another postponement because obviously this barangay elections have already been postponed once and as a result of that the barangay officials were holdover,” said Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez.

With this, the poll body official noted that it would entirely depend on the new law that would be passed to postpone the polls, if the lawmakers decide to reschedule it anew.

“We don’t know if the next law that postpones it, if such a law comes, will also provide for a holdover or will provide for a different solution ‎to the question of leadership at the community level,” he said.

Jimenez added, “It’s entirely possible for some provision to be inserted there that will not say holdover. It’s possible na holdover, possible din appointment. At this point hindi pa namin alam kung ano mangyayari.”

Likewise, he said that they were looking at other possibilities.

“Number two, inaaral natin kung ano ang magiging consequence at epekto sa ating electoral system kung wala nga magiging holdover or magkakaroon appointment,” Jimenez said.

He was also asked if the Constitution allowed the appointment of barangay officials.

“Malalim na tanong ‘yan. At this point we cannot opine on that one way or the other kasi nga pinag aaralan kung ano consequence postponement,” the poll body official said.

“Siguro sa mga darating na araw may masasabi tayo d’yan pero sa ngyon wala muna,” Jimenez added.