Sunday, August 19, 2007 3-termers can no longer run: Puno
BARANGAY officials who have served the same position for three consecutive terms since 1994 can no longer run for the same position on Oct. 29.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno issued this statement as a response to numerous queries on the term limit of barangay officials in relation to the forthcoming synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
In a news article posted on the DILG website, Puno said Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) 9164 or An Act Providing for the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections clearly provides that no barangay elective officials shall serve for more than three consecutive terms.
The provision that Puno cited also states that “the term of office shall be reckoned from the 1994 barangay elections,” and that “voluntary renunciation of office shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which the elective official was elected.”
“Based on the said provision, elective barangay officials are covered by the three-consecutive term limit rule to hold the same position and the first term shall be reckoned from the 1994 barangay elections,” Puno said.
Puno’s clarification was made through a department advisory issued by Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero as his office had received numerous verbal and written queries on barangay officials’ term of office and term limit now that the elections are fast approaching.
The Commission on Elections has set Sept. 29 to Nov. 13 as the election period, which means gun ban will be enforced.
Those who want to run have Oct. 11 to 18 to file their certificates of candidacy. They also have nine days, from Oct. 19 to Oct. 27, to campaign. (MBG)
