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[av_heading heading=’ELECTED OR APPOINTED? | Iloilo barangay leaders weigh Duterte plan’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Friday, March 24, 2017
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ILOILO City – 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 Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to declare all barangay council posts across the country vacant by October and replace them with his appointees.
The barangay election is scheduled this October but the President wants this postponed indefinitely.
He is wary of candidates backed by drug lords winning the election, he explained last night during a speech at a gathering of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Metro Manila.
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.
“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.
According to the President last night, the vetting process for appointees will include many sectors such as the church and civil society making recommendations and from the list of recommendees, the appointees will be chosen.
He said “40 percent” of barangay captains in the country are involved in illegal drugs.
Hervias, the ex-officio member of the Iloilo City Council, said he understood that the President’s plan is still part of the campaign against illegal drugs down to the barangay level.
But not all barangays are drug-affected, he said.
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.
But Gemarino also acknowledged the President’s concern that the election may result to narco-politics in the barangay level.
He also raised the practice of vote-buying during elections.
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.
Today, Gemarino is convening all presidents of municipal Association of Barangay Councils in Iloilo province. They will discuss the barangay election and its possible postponement once again.
They will try to come up with a stand on the matter, said Gemarino.
The barangay election was originally scheduled October last year but this was moved to this year.
Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said it is not illegal to remove village officials and replace them with appointees.
“The barangay officials’ terms have already ended (October last year) so their posts can be declared vacant,” he said.
Under the President’s plan, persons not involved in illegal drugs will be appointed in barangay councils, said Sueno./PN
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