(Eagle News) — A House of Representatives committee on Monday gave the green light to a bill seeking the postponement of the 2017 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to next year.
More than 10 members of the suffrage and electoral reforms panel voted for the postponement to May 2018, echoing President Rodrigo Duterte’s position that barangay and other local officials involved in illegal drug activities should be weeded out before the conduct of the polls.
Only two representatives opposed the approval of the bill—Act Teachers Representative Arlene Brosas and Antonio Tinio.
The bill–which also allowed the incumbent barangay officials to remain in a holdover position–is set to be discussed under second reading on the plenary.