‘SK polls won’t push through’

DESPITE the start of the election period today (January 22) for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls scheduled on February 21, both Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez still believe the SK election will be postponed.

“I believe it won't push through. Majority of the congressmen agree for the postponement of the SK polls because the 2016 national and local elections are nearing. I'm sure Congress will move ASAP for its postponement when they resume sessions today," the governor said Wednesday.

Many are still pushing for SK's abolition, he added.

Benitez, for his part, said that Congress will pass the bill on the postponement for final reading today and that they also expect the Senate to immediately act on the matter.

He said it is impractical to go on with the SK election on February 21 because it’s only a year to go before the national and local elections.

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill seeking the postponement of the SK election and to synchronize it with the upcoming barangay elections in October 2016.

However, as far as the Commission on Elections is concerned, they are now all set for the SK polls.

Provincial Election Supervisor Jessie Suarez said that they officially convened on Wednesday the Provincial Joint Security Control Center, which he chairs, with Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, and Col. Jon Aying, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, as members.

They will oversee the security operations during the entire election period up to March 2.

The gun ban starts today while the transfer of employees and new appointments are also prohibited beginning January 22.

Suarez said that based on the existing law, the SK polls will push through unless there is another law that will be passed for its postponement.

The filing of the certificates of candidacy will be held on February 7, 9 and 10 while the campaign period is on February 11 to 19.

Suarez said that during their future command conference, they will determine possible areas of concern in the province though he believes that there will be none.

He also reminded politicians to not to interfere in the conduct of SK election that is supposed to be non-partisan. (TDE)