House approves bill postponing barangay polls to May 2018

September 11, 2017

The House of Representatives approved Monday on third and final reading a consolidated measure moving the October 23, 2017 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to May 14, 2018 with a holdover provision among incumbent officials.

Lawmakers passed House Bill (HB) No. 6308 to remove officials believed to be involved in the illegal drugs trade in 43,000 barangays nationwide.

The six members of the left-leaning Makabayan bloc voted against the measure along with Reps. Gary Alejano of Magdalo and Tom Villarin of Akbayan and Cebu Reps Raul del Mar and Siquijor Rep. Ramon Rocamora, both of the majority bloc.

The measure will be discussed in the bicameral conference committee.

Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna, House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms which approved the measure, said the bill would help the anti-illegal drugs campaign of President Duterte.

Czarena Aquino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said the anti-drug agency arrested at least 87 barangay chairmen and 256 village councilors in the intensified anti-drug war campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte. DMS