Villar: May 14 youth, barangay polls to push thru

Senator Cynthia Villar. CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net

BACOLOD CITY—The insistence of the Lower House to pass a bill postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections was only creating “false hope for the people,” said Senator Cynthia Villar.

She maintained that the May 14 polls would push through as there was not enough time to pass a legislation to postpone it.

She pointed out that Congress’ last session day is on March 21; a law cannot be passed in three days, Villar said.

The House Committee on Suffrage Monday voted to move the May 14 elections to October 8 this year.

With three session days left, the House bill for the postponement of the barangay elections had not even reached the plenary, Villar, who was in Bacolod on Friday for an event, said.

“And even if the Lower House passes the bill next week, the country has a bicameral legislative system,” she added.

If the Senate has no counterpart bill, nothing would happen, Villar added.

Her sentiment was shared by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who was also in Bacolod for another event on Friday.

“We are still a bicameral legislature the last time I looked, the Senate has not been abolished,” she said.

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, however, said the Lower House would pass a bill on Monday for the postponement of the barangay elections.

But he added, it would be up to the Senate if it would adopt their version and pass it.

The last time he spoke to Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Benitez said he was told that the postponement of the polls would face rough sailing in the Senate.

“So it is unlikely that the May 14 polls will be postponed,” he added.