• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The move to postpone the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections slated for November 2 this year, due to the economic crisis brought about by fuel price hike, continues to gain ground in the House of Representatives, according to Deputy Speaker Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Benitez revealed that about 95 percent of the House members are in favor of postponing the 2026 BSKE polls. It also has the support of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.
Benitez, the representative of the Bacolod Lone District, is pushing for the postponement of 2026 BSKE for six months because of the current fuel crisis.
Instead of spending the allocated P14 billion to P15 billion budget, the Bacolod solon said it would do well to spend the allocated budget for the local polls on more urgent necessities such as helping the sectors affected by the skyrocketing prices of fuels.
Benitez, who is also the convenor of Visayan bloc, said that a multi-party push for the BSKE election is expected to be raised when Congress resumes session.
While he acknowledged a Supreme Court decision that cited postponing the elections as unconstitutional, but just the same, a postponement can still be done, arguing that “there is valid and just cause because of the current crisis.”
The fact that the nation is facing an emergency crisis is a justifiable reason to postpone the polls, Benitez added.
While there are moves to postpone it, our preparations continue, as far as we are concerned, disclosed Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, citing the orders issued by the Commission on Elections chairman George Irwin Garcia.
Any postponement would require new legislation, according to Comelec.*
