Comelec mulls new hearing on conduct of barangay polls in Mindanao

FILE: Comelec Commissioner Luie Guia said that they need to know the voice of the people if they want the scheduled polls to be held or not. (Photo by Brian Evans/Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0)

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may conduct another public consultation on whether or not to push through with the holding of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in Mindanao which is set for May next year.

This, as the Congress approved President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to extend martial law in the region for another year.

Comelec Commissioner Luie Guia said that they need to know the voice of the people if they want the scheduled polls to be held or not.

“Just like before there is a state of ML or whatever it is that justifies the declaration in certain area…What we are looking is the same basis or grounds to declare or that will justify suspension of the holding elections as well,” he said in an interview.

“On our part, we will conduct another hearing as we had conducted in Davao the last time to see what the situation is on the ground if we can actually suspend the holding of the election because of the state of lawlessness or rebellion that was used to declare ML in certain areas,” Guia added.

The poll body official explained that the conduct of public hearing is also “a requirement before they can declare any suspension or failure of elections.”

“I think we will use the same process if ever there is an extension… So we will also definitely take that into consideration but we will have another assessment,” Guia added.

On the other hand, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez echoed Guia’s statement on the matter.

“The authority of Comelec basically flows from the holding of elections. I think that’s what has to be looked at. Most probably we will have consultation in case the extension is approved,” he added

In August, the poll body conducted a public hearing in Davao City to know the opinion of the people if they want the village and youth polls to push through or not.

In September, Comelec suspended the holding of the said polls in Mindanao following the placing of the region under martial law due to the five-month conflict between government forces and Maute terrorists in Marawi City.

In a joint session Wednesday, the Congress, voting 240-27, granted President Duterte’s request for a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao. (PNA)