(Eagle News) — Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III on Monday said he sees no reason to postpone the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls slated in May.
Pimentel made the pronouncement after Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel filed separate bills seeking the postponement of these elections.
Umali said the polls should be held in May 2019, while the Surigao del Sur representative said they should be held in October 2018 instead.
“Wala nga akong maisip. Kaya nga hindi ako nag-file ng postponement kasi kung may naisip talaga ako na reason papa-postpone ko rin, pero wala,” the Senate President said.
According to the Senate leader, the Commission on Elections was already “prepared” for the conduct of elections in May.
“Handa na yata lahat. ..Handa na ‘yung mga nakaupo. Handa na rin ang botante. ‘Yung mga ayaw na nila, ‘yung kanilang mga kapitan, gusto na nila ng halalan para mapalitan,” he said.
He said even if the House passes a bill postponing the same, the Senate only has two session weeks before it goes on a break.
