Barangay, SK polls likely a go, thanks to Senate

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has heaved a sigh of relief, following the inability of both chambers of Congress to pass a bill postponing the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Congress went on recess without the Senate proposing a bill in support of the House of Representativesí approved measure moving the elections to October this year.

“That whooshing sound you hear is the collective sigh of relief [of] 57,284,798 barangay and youth voters [on] learning that Congress went on recess without the Senate having done anything to support the Houseís initiative to postpone the polls,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez.

Congress began its recess on Friday and will resume sessions on May 14, the scheduled day of the barangay and SK elections.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives voted 164-27 to move the elections to October. No senator proposed a similar bill.

In a post on his blog, www.jamesjimenez.com, Jimenez also cited the pronouncements of several senators and President Duterte that the barangay and youth elections would proceed.

“So, barring the occurrence of some supervening event of earthshaking magnitude over the next seven weeks, it would appear that thatís as good a guarantee as any [that the elections will push through],” he said. –JULIE M. AURELIO