Pimentel, Padilla oppose postponement of barangay, SK polls

MOCK POLLS Residents of Barangay Western Bicutan in Taguig City participate in the mock election at Tenement Elementary School. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Robin Padilla are opposing the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

The barangay and SK polls are scheduled on December 5.

“For the record, I am against postponing the [barangay and SK elections],” Pimentel said during the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes hearing on Friday.

Padilla shared the same view with the Senate Minority Leader.

“Pareho po tayo. Kami talaga sa PDP-Laban (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan), kami talaga ang gusto namin ma-empower talaga ‘yung mga nasa baba,” said Padilla.

(We’re the same. We, in the PDP-Laban, want to empower the people, especially at the grassroots level.)

“Kaya kami gusto naming ma-decentralize ang power talaga kasi sobra po talaga ang binigay nating power,” he added.

(We want the power to decentralize because we have given so much of it.)

Earlier, Senators Francis Escudero and Jinggoy Estrada filed separate measures seeking the postponement of the barangay and SK polls.

/MUF/abc