Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has filed a bill that would enable President Duterte to postpone the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October.
If enacted, House Bill No. 5359 would defer the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections originally scheduled in October last year for the second straight time to 2020.
Barbers said the postponement of the elections will cleanse barangays infested by illegal drugs. Duterte has sought the postponement of the barangay elections due to narco-politics.
“There is a need to postpone the 2017 barangay elections to rid barangays of officials linked to illegal drug operations. The barangay election was postponed last year for the very same reason, and obviously, we have yet to consider our communities drug-free,” said Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.
“The drug problem begins at the grassroots level, therefore, this is where we should start cleansing,” he added.
Meanwhile, Barbers backed Duterte’s plan to appoint officers-in-charge to replace sitting barangay officials.
The Mindanao solon believes that President will be able to pick “untainted” OICs. (Ellson A. Quismorio)