Saturday, October 06, 2007 Editorials: New move to postpone bry. polls
DON'T blame some people if they want to flog whoever asked President Arroyo to certify as urgent the bill postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.
While the certification may no longer matter considering the opposition of most of the senators to the move, it again sparked confusion among barangay folks.
Malacañang’s initiative came weeks after the House of Representatives passed the postponement bill, also confusing people not familiar with the lawmaking process.
But what the President did maybe worse because it was made when certificates of candidacy have been filed and aspirants have poured money and effort for the purpose.
And while Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials claimed they will continue preparing for the political exercise, there’s no denying it has affected their zeal.
Ill-timed
One is therefore prompted to ask whether the President knew of the developments of the past weeks or, if she didn’t, whether somebody bothered to inform her about these.
The lack of information can be gleaned from the failure to cite reasons convincing enough to support the move to certify as urgent the passage of the poll postponement bill.
The only “compelling” argument for the postponement of the elections, originally set for Oct. 29, would perhaps be the resignation of Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos.
But it would not be wrong to believe also that an organization like the Comelec won’t be paralyzed by the quitting of an official even if he happens to be the chairman.
Not possible
After having said that, however, one can insist that the President’s move should not deter Comelec and the candidates from following the original poll timetable.
The possibility of the Senate heeding Malacañang’s call is nil not only because of the senators’ temper but more so because the said body is controlled by the opposition.
Senate President Manuel Villar, in his recent visit to Cebu, already gave an assurance that the barangay and SK elections will be held as originally scheduled.
This is one of the rare occasions where people may have to believe more the Senate’s top man than this country’s president.
