By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — The registration of voters for the 2016 national election may be suspended to give way to the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Grace Padaca said the suspension could last at least three months to give Comelec ample time to prepare.
Padaca said Congress has passed Republic Act 9340, which rescheduled the SK election to sometime between October 2014 and February 2015.
The SK election was initially set on October 28 last year but was suspended amid calls to abolish the youth council.
Several sectors claimed that the SK has become a breeding ground for political dynasties because the candidates are commonly children and/or relatives of incumbent government officials or influential political families.
They also raised the concern that the SK has adopted the practice of “traditional politicians” of mismanaging public funds.
Comelec supported the suspension of the youth council election.
Padaca said another concern that may affect Comelec’s timetable for the 2016 national election is the planned plebiscite for the Bangsamoro state in Mindanao./PN
