Pimentel: Reasons given not enough to justify 2022 brgy, SK polls postponement

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III is not satisfied with the reasons stated to justify the proposed postponement of the 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

"All of the reasons given as justifications to postpone para sa akin are not sufficient and not good reasons," Pimentel said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

He made the remark when asked about Senate electoral reforms and people's participation committee chairperson Senator Imee Marcos' sponsorship speech where she said that the postponement will buy lawmakers time to study and debate the deeper issues confronting the barangay and SK systems under the existing laws.

For Pimentel, the elections can still push through even if the lawmakers are studying reforms in the barangay and SK systems.

"That should not be given as a reason to postpone. Kahit matuloy ang eleksyon ngayong December, tuloy pa rin ang pag-aaral," he said.

Pimentel said the 2022 local elections should be respected as reforms in the barangay and SK systems start with "having firm commitments by honoring the schedule of the elections."

The Senate has approved on second reading the bill postponing the 2022 BSKE for a year.

Pimentel and Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros opposed the passage of Senate bill 1306.

Considering the overwhelming support to the bills seeking the 2022 BSKE's postponement from both houses of Congress, Pimentel admitted that pushing the Senate minority bloc's position will be a "long shot."

Since 2016, the barangay and SK polls have been repeatedly postponed.

The October 2016 barangay and SK polls were postponed to October 2017. From there, it was postponed to May 2018, which was again reset to December 2022. —KBK, GMA News