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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Thursday, March 30, 2017
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ILOILO City – Postponing the barangay election set this October needed a law, according to Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo Jr. of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“What is required is an enabling law. The President does not have the power to just suspend the elections unless both the House of Representatives and Senate approve it,” said Hinlo.
President Rodrigo Duterte wanted the barangay election postponed indefinitely. He planned to declare all barangay council posts vacant and replace them with his appointees. He was wary of candidates backed by drug lords winning the polls, he explained.
Speaking at the sidelines of the graduation ceremony of Northern Iloilo Polytechnic College – Ajuy, Iloilo campus on March 28, Hinlo said DILG cannot also postpone the election on its own without a law enacted by Congress.
But he stressed there was nothing wrong with postponing the barangay election. Even past administrations postponed village polls and barangay officials continued serving in a “holdover capacity.”
What the President Duterte wanted this time was the opportunity to appoint barangay officials, said Hinlo.
“It won’t be undemocratic if backed by law. As to its constitutionality, let the court address that,” he added.
According to Iloilo’s 5th District congressman Raul Tupas, a bill has already been filed in the Lower House resetting the barangay elections to 2020 and amending the Local Government Code so that DILG will have an authority to appoint barangay officials.
Hinlo clarified that the term of the current set of barangay officials expired last year yet.
The barangay election was originally set October last year. Citing its closeness to the May 2016 national elections, however, Congress moved it to October this year.
“The extension (of their term) is just a privilege (granted) by law,” said Hinlo.
Electing barangay officials is better than just appointing them, according to the presidents of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) in this city and Iloilo province.
But Reyland Hervias of LnB-Iloilo City and his provincial counterpart Pablito Gemarino said they respect President Duterte’s plan.
Hervias said there should be a vetting process for barangay appointees.
“They should have proven dedication and sincerity in serving their barangays,” he stressed.
But having a barangay election is better, he insisted.
Hinlo said nominations will be solicited from nongovernment organizations or civic groups not from politicians.
“The mandate must come from the villagers. The respect and approval of constituents are very important for barangay officials. Appointees may not have their community’s high regard,” said Hervias.
Gemarino, meanwhile, said holding an election is the more democratic way of choosing barangay leaders.
“Community residents appreciate freely choosing their own barangay leaders,” he stressed.
Like Hervias, he expressed reservation on possible appointees.
“Indi naton masiguro nga ang tawo nga gin-endorse is really responsible, dedicated, may ara pagtan-aw sa kaayuhan sang isa ka barangay kag masaligan,” said Gemarino.
The people should be involved in the selection of their barangay leaders, he said, because no one wants his community led by drug lords, pushers or users, or criminals./PN
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