The president revealed his reasons why he agreed to postpone the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay elections.
Barangay elections is two months away but President Rodrigo Duterte says he is amenable to postponing it for some reasons.
As he spoke to the officials and troopers of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) during the unit’s 10th anniversary rites in Davao City on Friday evening, Duterte confirmed that he has agreed to the proposals of some congressmen to postpone the October 31, 2016 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay elections.
The president said he is worried that ‘drug money’ would be used by barangay officials to win the poll.
He added that the country can save billions of funds if the election will not be held this year. The money, he said, can be used to construct rehabilitation centers for thousand of drug personalities who surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) since the government’s massive and aggressive drug campaign started on July 1.
“Do you know the reason why I also agreed with some congressmen to postpone the barangay elections? Do you know why? Because I am afraid that the drug money will seep into the electoral process”.
Duterte used to be firm in his stand to purse the holding of elections because barangay officials linked to illegal drugs have long been in their posts and need to be replaced with ‘clean ones’.
He can also be recalled saying that the barangay officials who do not participate in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs must be punished through filing of administrative cases.
This year’s barangay elections is said to end the reign of political dynasties in the country.
Section 10 of the Republic Act 10742 otherwise known as the “Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015” states that the candidates must not be related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official, in the locality whee there he or she seeks to be elected.
Second-degree relatives include grandparents, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, parents-in-law, daughters-in-law and sons-in-law.
The Comelec is tasked to ensure the compliance of the candidates.
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