Thursday, September 20, 2007 Editorials: Senate should end the uncertainty
IT may have been a bit late but the Cebu City Council has expressed yesterday its opposition to the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.
That should help remind the Senate to finally end the uncertainty hounding the political exercise because of the initiative to this effect by some congressmen.
Like what its main proponent Rep. Eduardo Gullas said, the postponement bill was passed by the House of Representatives swiftly and with the least opposition.
Clarification
The speed is not surprising considering that Congress is pressed for time because the barangay and SK elections have been scheduled for next month already.
And although it is doubtful if the Senate will follow the lead of the House because many senators are against the postponement, the effort raised uncertainties.
Even now, many people, including would-be candidates, are seeking clarification especially from the media, dampening the enthusiasm for the political exercise.
Note that a good number of barangay residents do not know that passage of the postponement bill is only one half of the story, the other being its fate in the Senate.
Senate
What is compounding the problem is that the senators themselves are tied with the twin hearings on the “Hello Garci” controversy and the national broadband project issue.
Since those hearings involve issues with serious ramifications to the country, aside from giving ambitious senators free publicity, the focus is centered on them.
It is highly probable then that senators will only give the Senate version of the postponement bill a cursory look, that is if it will look into it at all.
Pressure
Timing is therefore one more reason why the move to postpone the election is deplorable; haste ensures that its merits and demerits won’t be discussed thoroughly.
In the meantime, would-be bets are either holding back or, if they are pushing through with the preparation, risk wasting effort and money in case of postponement.
Pressure should therefore be exerted on the Senate to either reject the postponement bill, which is the better option, or pass its own version of the measure.
It would be unfair for barangay residents to allow the uncertainty to linger.
