Public hearing held in Davao on barangay, SK polls in Mindanao

During the public consultation, Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said eight organizations supported the postponement of elections in the region while three groups want the polls to be held this year. (PNA Photo)

MANILA, August 15 — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) conducted a public hearing in Davao City on Tuesday to know the opinion of the people if they want the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in Mindanao, to push through or not.

During the public consultation, Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said eight organizations supported the postponement of elections in the region while three groups want the polls to be held this year.

He added that some 600 individuals attended the public hearing, which lasted for half an hour.

With this, Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said they are giving stakeholders five days to submit their position papers after which they will come up with a decision.

“The commission will be reading these papers in coming up with a decision on the matter,” he told the attendees of the public consultation held at Marco Polo Hotel.

“We are looking at the possibility of the Comelec postponing the elections in just a specific area,” Bautista said.

Early this month, Comelec has ordered the holding of a public hearing on the possibility of postponing the village and youth polls in Mindanao, which is under Martial Law until December 31, 2017.