As measures in Congress to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) gain traction, a coalition of concerned sectors in San Pedro City, Laguna have expressed their strong opposition to the proposed delays.
For KASAPI Coalition, a group of community and civic leaders, youth organizations, and other concerned sectors, such a move is tantamount to depriving the people of their right and mandate to choose their own leaders.
In the run-up to an "Advocacy Walk" organized by the group in San Pedro City last September 5, the group issued a statement expressing their opposition to several bills filed in Congress to postpone the BSKE, scheduled for November 2.
"Ang halalan sa barangay ay may direktang epekto sa bawat residente at pamilya sapagkat ang barangay ang pinakamalapit na antas ng pamahalaan sa mga mamamayan," the coalition said in the statement.
"Dahil dito, ang pagpapaliban ng halalan ay hindi lamang usapin ng mga kandidato o kasalukuyang opisyal."
The group issued the statement after House Bill No. 10971, seeking to extend term limits for elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials, was passed on second reading at the House of Representatives.
Proponents of the measure claimed that the main issue is not the postponement of the BSKE but rather the streamlining of term limits for elected barangay officials.
If passed into law, this means that barangay elections will once again be postponed to 2028, after the national elections.
KASAPI Coalition members, however, emphasized that term limits can be adjusted without the need to delay elections.
“Kung nais ng Kongreso na magkaroon ng limang taong termino, maaaring pag-usapan at ipasa ang naturang polisiya. Ngunit hindi dapat gamitin ang pagbabago ng term length bilang dahilan upang ipagpaliban ang isang halalang nakatakda na,” the group stressed in the statement.
Citing Article II, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that "sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them," KASAPI added that the right of the people to choose their leaders should not fall victim to legal technicalities.
"Ang mandato ay ipinagkakatiwala ng mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng malaya at regular na eleksyon. Hindi ito dapat paulit-ulit na ipinagpapaliban,” the statement said.
“Ang muling pagpapaliban ng BSKE ay pagkakait sa pagkakataon ng taumbayan na muling pumili at magbigay ng mandato."
(OpinYon News Team)
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