MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections will continue in December unless a new law postponing it will be passed.
Comelec acting spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said this as the poll body opened the registration for the barangay and SK elections scheduled on December 5 this year.
“Alam naman po natin na ang paglalagay ng petsa ng mga halalan ay talagang nasa puder at kapangyarihan ng ating Kongreso at ehekutibo. Sa ngayon kasi, ang umiiral na batas talaga ay nagtatakda na ang ating barangay elections ay nalipat sa December 5, 2022,” Laudiangco said during the Laging Handa briefing.
(We know that the power to set the date of the elections is with Congress and the executive branch. Right now, the law says that our barangay elections are scheduled on December 5, 2022.)
“Kung magkakaroon man ng Republic Act resetting or postponing it, tatalima naman ang Comelec,” he added.
(If there will be a new law resetting or postponing it, Comelec will follow.)
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Republic Act No. 11462, signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte, moved the conduct of the barangay and SK elections from May 2020 to December 2022.
READ: Duterte signs law deferring 2020 barangay, SK polls to Dec 2022
Laudiangco said that currently, Comelec is in the process of procuring ballot papers, ballot secrecy folders, ballpens, and other anti-COVID supplies that will be used for the December polls.
Comelec is also in coordination with the National Printing Office, he added.
Should the barangay and SK elections be postponed once more, Laudiangco said the supplies procured can still be used for the new schedule.
“Hanggang walang Republic Act at ang umiiral ay yung dati pang Republic Act natin, talagang sa December 5, 2022 ang ating barangay at SK elections,” Laudiangco said.
(Until there is a new law, and what is in effect is the current republic act, our barangay and SK elections will push through on December 5.)