Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 28) — Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel on Wednesday said the Supreme Court’s ruling on the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) validated his earlier stand that there were no compelling reasons to delay the polls.
“The postponement, without any compelling reason, undermined the constitutional rights of suffrage and weakens the foundation of our democratic institutions,” Pimentel’s statement read.
Pimentel said the ruling is a significant milestone that has been achieved in safeguarding the democratic processes in the country.
Only Pimentel and his fellow minority Sen. Risa Hontiveros voted against the postponement of BSK polls in September last year.
LINK: Pimentel: Pushing for barangay, SK polls this year ‘a long shot’
Meanwhile, Sen. Imee Marcos, chair of the Committee on Electoral Reforms, said reasons for the postponement of the BSKE remained valid despite the ruling.
“The present barangay and SK officials need sufficient time to implement their programs which have been sidetracked by the pandemic. It is high time that the term of barangay and SK officials be extended,” she said in a statement.
Sen. Marcos also argued that the postponement will also save the government billions of pesos, citing that elections, even the ones involving barangay and SK officials, are costly.
With all the tasks heaped upon the barangay officials, the senator added that the present term (3 years) of barangay and SK officials is insufficient for them to formulate, implement, and evaluate their own policies and programs.
On Monday, the high court ruled that Republic Act No. 11935, or the act postponing barangay and youth polls is unconstitutional, but it ordered the October polls to go through as planned.
According to the SC, there had been a grave abuse of discretion leading to a lack or excess of jurisdiction in the enactment of RA 11935.
Senate may challenge SC ruling
Sen. Francis Tolentino on Wednesday said the Senate leadership is set to meet over a possible filing of a motion for reconsideration.
But the chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee clarified that they respect the decision of the Supreme Court – a co-equal branch of the government – and agreed that there should be periodic elections.
Tolentino said he has already talked to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri about the matter.
He added that the decision should not affect the proposal to postpone the barangay and SK polls in Negros Oriental because of the recent spike in violence there.
READ: 9 Negros Oriental mayors call for barangay, SK polls postponement over ‘atmosphere of terror’
\”Kasi magkaiba yon e, ‘yung sinabi ng Supreme Court na unconstitutional, the entire Philippines. Ito naman, ito lang, yong para sa Negros Oriental so hindi siguro ma-confuse doon,\” he noted.
[Translation: Because that’s different, what the Supreme Court said is unconstitutional is for the entire Philippines. But this one, it is only for Negros Oriental so there shouldn’t be any confusion there.]
