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By Angelo S. Samonte Reporter
Malacañang on Wednesday declared
October 29, as a special nonworking holiday to give way to the
holding of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)
elections—signaling that the elections will push through.
“It is important to give the
people the fullest opportunity to participate in the elections and
exercise their right to vote,” President Gloria Arroyo said in
issuing the proclamation.
President Arroyo this month
certified as “urgent” a House proposal seeking to delay the
simultaneous elections. But the Senate would not agree.
A new law—passed by the
Congress and the Senate—is needed to postpone the elections.
Executive Secretary Eduardo
Ermita said the President had asked members of both chambers of
Congress to support a proposal seeking two-year postponement of the
October 29 polls.
The new bill intends to postpone
the barangay and SK elections until May 2009.
Ermita said Mrs. Arroyo’s move
was not caused by the resignation of former Comelec Chairman
Benjamin Abalos Sr.
He added the President arrived at
the decision because of strong support for the proposed deferment
from the House majority bloc.
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