Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Spokesperson James Jimenez fears, voters registering for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections may lose interest due to the uncertainty on whether or not the polls will push through on October 23 this year.
Jimenez has expressed this concern in view of President Rodrigo Duterte’s desire to postpone the political exercises.
Duterte earlier cited the alleged involvement of many local leaders in illegal drug trade.
Jimenez says, registrants may become lazy and decide to skip any plan to go to their local precincts as they see the possibility that there might be no elections this year.
Jimenez hopes, this matter will be clear by July.
He explains, July is the period when COMELEC purchases election materials.
If the elections will not take place, he says, the poll body will end up incurring unnecessary expenses.
Jimenez also asks lawmakers not reset the barangay and SK elections to a date that is too near the 2019 mid-term polls, as this will cause trouble in issuance of certificates relating to the automated elections.