CONGRESS on Sunday assured the Commission on Elections that a law on the postponement of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections can be passed in a week or two if only the two chambers can come to an agreement.
“It will take only a week or two to pass the law if both houses of Congress will agree,” said Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, majority floor leader and stalwart of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, author of House Bill No. 5359 seeking the election postponement, said the House of Representatives can still beat its deadline to pass the bill.
“We still have enough time to postpone the barangay and SK polls. We hope Malacañang will certify the bill as urgent to make this possible,” he said.
Should the august body reject to postpone the barangay and SK elections set on Oct. 23, Fariñas, said, President Rodrigo Duterte would take it against them.
“The President made his case strongly, but clearly stated that he will follow the will of Congress even if it decides not to postpone,” he added.
He said the super majority cause will discuss the matter and other priority measures today afternoon.
Rep. Sherwin Tugna of the Citizens Battle Against Corruption party-list, committee on suffrage and electoral reforms chairman, also gave the assurance that there is still enough time to act on Barbers’ proposal.
“There is still time. We can pass a law in the lower house once the leadership decides on it,” he said.
For his part, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte backed the local elections postponement, saying such could give Comelec officials and employees, teachers and other stakeholders “a space to breath” a year after the May 2016 presidential election.