Binay asks Palace to fill in vacant Comelec posts

Senator Nancy Binay. INQUIRER.net / CATHY MIRANDA

Senator Nancy Binay urged Malacañang on Wednesday to fill in the three vacant positions at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure smooth preparations for the 2018 barangay elections.

“As far as the Senate is concerned, tuloy ang barangay at Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) elections sa Mayo [Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan elections in May will proceed],” Binay said in a statement.

“Hindi na po natin kailangan ipagpaliban pa ang barangay elections kung pupunan ng Malacañang ang mga bakante sa Comelec,” she said.

(We don’t need to reschedule the barangay elections if Malacañang fills in the Comelec vacant positions.)

On Monday, the House of Representatives committee on suffrage and electoral reforms has approved the postponement of the barangay and SK elections by five months.

READ: With only 2 weeks left, House panel OKs barangay poll postponement to Oct.

Binay said that the Comelec en banc is having hard time establishing a quorum or setting an assembly due to the three vacant positions.

“Hirap na hirap daw yung mga division na magkaroon ng quorum kasi isipin mo tatlong miyembro ng Comelec ang bakante (The division is having a hard time to get a quorum because of three vacant Comelec positions),” she said.

Last year, former Comelec chair Andres Bautista resigned from his post following the impeachment complaint filed against him over his alleged unexplained wealth.

READ: BREAKING: Comelec chair Andres Bautista resigns

Meanwhile, Commissioners Christian Robert Lim and Arthur Lim both retired from their position last month.

READ: Comelec void may delay polls

This leaves the Comelec with only four active members: Commissioners Sheriff Abas, Rowena Guanzon, Luie Tito Guia, and Al Parreño. /jpv