A number of lawmakers are against the government’s plan to postpone anew the October barangay (village) polls for another year and just appoint officials, arguing that this would deprive the public of their right to choose their leaders, and could be a step toward a dictatorship.
Deputy Speaker Romero Quimbo of Marikina as well as Representatives Sherwin Tugna of Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption party-list, Rodel Batocabe of Ako Bicol party-list, Tom Villarin of Akbayan party-list, Teodoro Baguilat of Ifugao, Edcel Lagman of Albay and Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list made the stand after Secretary Ismael Sueño of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the October barangay polls should be postponed for the second consecutive year to rid barangays of officials linked to illegal drug operations, the same reason the 2016 polls were postponed.
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