Straight Talk by Nimfa L. Estrellado “We are looking for a way to appoint na lang barangay captains, but the mechanism of how to go ab...
Straight Talk
by Nimfa L. Estrellado
by Nimfa L. Estrellado
“We are looking for a way to appoint na lang barangay captains, but the mechanism of how to go about it, I’m going to a compromise with the church and everybody,” This is what President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said in a speech after arriving from his official visit to Myanmar and Thailand.
This, according to President Duterte, giving the Church the right to collate or nominate individuals for the posts, as long as these individuals are “incorruptible” and had no involvement or knowledge of any illegal drug activities and must not be associated with other criminals.
“They can nominate, so we can do away with shady characters,” he added.
On Oct. 31, 2016, the year elections were originally scheduled, just days before the administration’s controversial bloody war on drugs, Duterte signed a law postponing the barangay and Sangguniuang Kabataan elections to be moved to October 23, 2017, saying that “drug money will seep into the electoral protest.”
And now 2017, President Duterte’s said he should just cancel the election and instead appoint barangay officials.
In pursuance to President Duterte’s declaration DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno said Duterte wants barangay elections canceled because 40 percent of barangay captains today are allegedly involved in drugs. There are around 42,000 barangays in the Philippines. Duterte believes that if elections were to be held, candidates with links to drugs would win.
DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno also said in an interview on radio DZMM, that the names of the drug-tainted barangay officials are on Duterte’s thick folder containing 7,000 to 8,000 names. He insisted that Duterte’s list has been verified and validated.
However, solon was strongly opposed President Rodrigo Duterte saying Duterte can’t appoint village execs, a certain law has to be amended first.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, in a statement, said Duterte’s plan to postpone barangay elections scheduled in October this year “to get rid” of barangay captains allegedly involved in drugs may materialize, if the current law is amended.
Abella said the government will still study the possible effects of declaring barangay positions vacant and appointing barangay officials.
The Local Government Code of 1991, or Republic Act No. 7160, mandates that elections be held for the chairs and councilors of barangays, according to Rep. Sherwin Tugna of the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption.
In my humble opinion, If this happens the Philippines democracy is lost. Well, if we think something’s wrong, why should we tolerate it? Where is the data? Show us compelling proof that the baranggay is being run by drug-tainted barangay officials. Remove an elected officials who have been involved in criminal activities or drug trafficking. There are no compelling reasons to postpone and just simple appoint new barangay officials, it can be done and there is a way. Let us all vote and choose our leaders! No to appointing barangay officials!
This, according to President Duterte, giving the Church the right to collate or nominate individuals for the posts, as long as these individuals are “incorruptible” and had no involvement or knowledge of any illegal drug activities and must not be associated with other criminals.
“They can nominate, so we can do away with shady characters,” he added.
On Oct. 31, 2016, the year elections were originally scheduled, just days before the administration’s controversial bloody war on drugs, Duterte signed a law postponing the barangay and Sangguniuang Kabataan elections to be moved to October 23, 2017, saying that “drug money will seep into the electoral protest.”
And now 2017, President Duterte’s said he should just cancel the election and instead appoint barangay officials.
In pursuance to President Duterte’s declaration DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno said Duterte wants barangay elections canceled because 40 percent of barangay captains today are allegedly involved in drugs. There are around 42,000 barangays in the Philippines. Duterte believes that if elections were to be held, candidates with links to drugs would win.
DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno also said in an interview on radio DZMM, that the names of the drug-tainted barangay officials are on Duterte’s thick folder containing 7,000 to 8,000 names. He insisted that Duterte’s list has been verified and validated.
However, solon was strongly opposed President Rodrigo Duterte saying Duterte can’t appoint village execs, a certain law has to be amended first.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, in a statement, said Duterte’s plan to postpone barangay elections scheduled in October this year “to get rid” of barangay captains allegedly involved in drugs may materialize, if the current law is amended.
Abella said the government will still study the possible effects of declaring barangay positions vacant and appointing barangay officials.
The Local Government Code of 1991, or Republic Act No. 7160, mandates that elections be held for the chairs and councilors of barangays, according to Rep. Sherwin Tugna of the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption.
In my humble opinion, If this happens the Philippines democracy is lost. Well, if we think something’s wrong, why should we tolerate it? Where is the data? Show us compelling proof that the baranggay is being run by drug-tainted barangay officials. Remove an elected officials who have been involved in criminal activities or drug trafficking. There are no compelling reasons to postpone and just simple appoint new barangay officials, it can be done and there is a way. Let us all vote and choose our leaders! No to appointing barangay officials!
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