Duterte postpones barangay elections — Andanar

The Commission on Elections tests polling equipment in this file photo taken in Barangay Linmansangan in Alaminos City. President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the bill postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this year. INQUIRER FILE / BUDANG NISPEROS

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on Tuesday Republic Act 10953 postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to 2018.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar confirmed this in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

Asked if the President signed on Tuesday the bill postponing the said elections, he replied, “Yes.”

The new law was signed less than a month before the scheduled barangay and SK elections on October 23.

The copy of the law, released by Malacañang, stated that the synchronized barangay and SK elections would be postponed to the second Monday of May 2018.

The law stated “incumbent barangay officials shall remain in office” until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified.

It said the subsequent synchronized barangay and SK elections shall be held on the second Monday of May 2020 and every three years thereafter.

Duterte has repeatedly said he wanted to postpone the elections, claiming local officials would use drug money to influence the elections. /cbb