Village chiefs may soon swear in elected execs

House of Representatives. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Punong barangays (village chiefs or barangay chairs) may soon be allowed to administer the oath of office to public officials, including the President.

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure empowering the punong barangay to swear in public officials in recognition of their “very important role” in the government’s political structure.

Camarines Sur Rep. Salvio Fortuno, principal author of House Bill No. 2729, said the measure sailed through the plenary by a vote of 195-0 on May 21.

Fortuno thanked his colleagues, particularly Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, chair of the committee on revision of laws and coauthor of the measure, for their support during the plenary debates.

The bill seeks to further amend Section 41 of Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987.

In pushing for approval of the bill, its authors cited the euphoria following the announcement after the May 2010 election that President-elect Benigno Aquino III would take his oath before a punong barangay in his hometown in Tarlac.

Highest official 

This brought to the fore the issue of whether or not a punong barangay could administer the oath of office to the highest official of the land.

“The great enthusiasm experienced by punong barangays at the time was practically doused with cold water when several legal luminaries expressed their views that the punong barangay had no power to administer the oath, except “in connection with any matter relating to all proceedings in the implementation of the katarungang pambarangay (barangay justice), Fortuno said.

If enacted into law, Fortuno said the amendment would give elected officials, including the President, the right to choose the public official who would administer the oath to them.