Senate wraps up discussions on barangay, SK polls postponement — Marcos

Discussions on the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections have been completed at the Senate and is now set to move forward to the plenary level, Senator Imee Marcos said over the weekend.

"Tapos na sa Senate, isasalang na sa plenary at sana makalusot, dahil October na 'yung schedule, sobrang dikit na sa schedule ng Comelec [Commission on Elections]. Dapat i-postpone na kaagad," she said in a chance interview with reporters on Sunday.

Marcos was referring to the proposal to postpone the Barangay and SK elections to May 2023 from the scheduled May 2020, on the reasoning that officials need more time in their terms—currently at two years—to be able to implement reforms.

The senator last month said there is consensus to postpone the polls, but as to when, the dates are still being deliberated upon. Marcos has suggested May 2023, but other senators are looking at October 2022.

"Sabi ng Comelec, 'pag dikit na dikit sa national election, baka mabulilyaso sila katulad noong 2010, ang dami raw na hindi nakaboto tapos masama 'yung panahon at 'yung mga kabataan, 'yung mga SK eh nasa eskwelahan pa, so sabi nila kung maaari, Mayo [2023] na para sabay-sabay," she said.

Marcos said she is hopeful that the May 2023 timeline would be followed.

"Alam ko may mga o-object sa time, maraming magke-question, okay lang. Pero ang akin, 'yun ang opinyon ng SK, barangay, ng Comelec. Parang 'yun ang pinaka-the best eh. Sabi nga namin, sobrang haba naman, eh sabi nila wala nang time at tsaka magulo na, mabulilyaso pa 'yung schedule," she said.

Marcos added that she hopes that if the postponement happens, it would be the last time.

"Sana ito na 'yung kahulihulihang pagpo-postpone. Ang sinasabi ko, sana after every national election, after one year 'yung barangay election, lagi na lang, para alam natin na three years. Ito na lang 'yung last postponement sana," she said.

"Medyo naka-jackpot naman ang kapitan. Ang haba, ang haba ng term nila. 'Wag nalang magalit yung mga kagawad, wala tayong magawa," she elaborated. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News