Kabataan wary over Duterte intention to postpone SK, barangay polls

MANILA, Philippines — The opposition Kabataan party-list on Tuesday cautioned Congress from postponing the 2020 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay elections, saying this should not serve the Duterte administration’s political interests.

“The call to postpone the SK elections should not serve to further the administration’s political interests, particularly Cha-cha (Charter changer) and term extension,” the progressive group in the House said in a statement.

If the SK elections are canceled anew, Kabataan said the government should “give focus on protecting its integrity and autonomy, making sure that its budget goes to its intended purpose.”

Kabataan said among the casualties of the much-delayed and controversial 2019 budget was the operations of the SK.

During his fourth State of the Nation Address Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress to postpone the May 2020 local polls to October 2022.

READ: Duterte calls on Congress: Postpone barangay polls from 2020 to 2022

The most recent Barangay and SK elections were conducted in May 2018. Originally scheduled for Oct. 31, 2016, the local elections were moved to Oct. 23, 2017, and then to May 14, 2018. /jpv

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