Bongbong Marcos seeks postponement of SK polls, too

Senator Ferdinand “Bong-bong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is pushing for the postponement of this year’s Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections  to 2016, saying  the youth council has become almost “meaningless” unless  reformed.

Marcos  filed Senate Bill 1186 Tuesday, postponing the  SK polls from October 28, 2013   to October 2016  “to give way for the institution of substantial reform of the youth council.”

He said the purpose of the said elections “had become almost meaningless unless reforms are introduced in the structure, accountability, and other aspect of governance of the present Sangguniang Kabataan.”

As a consequence, Marcos said in a statement, incumbent SK officers who were elected in 2010 would remain in office on holdover capacity unless removed or suspended.

All SK officials, who are ex-officio members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panglungsod, or Sangguniang Panlalawigan, will likewise continue to serve as such until the next SK polls.

In pushing for the postponement of the upcoming elections,  Marcos noted a general observation that the SK under the present structure has lost its effectiveness in advancing democratic ideals of service-oriented leadership.

He cited reports that SK leaders have become so politicized and susceptible to dishonest practices in handling public funds.

“As a result, there are strong clamor from different sectors of the society calling for the restructuring and in-depth evaluation of the SK, and institute reform therein,” the senator said.

Even  the National Youth Commission, Marcos  said,  has passed a resolution, expressing its support for the postponement of the October 2013 SK elections to give Congress time to legislate reforms before the election of new SK officials.