THE House of Representatives via viva voce vote approved on second reading Wednesday, March 14, the substitute bill that seeks to reschedule the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to October 8 this year.
The consolidated bill stemmed from four bills seeking the same filed by Representatives Reynaldo Umali, Johnny Pimentel, Jose Panganiban and Edgar Sarmiento.
The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms voted 15-2 on Monday, March 12, to postpone the elections again.
Agusan del Norte 1st Districr Rep. Lawrence Fortun and Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice voted against the majority decision.
Voting 17-0, the committee voted to reschedule the polls from May 14 to the second Monday of October 8.
It is not clear however if the Senate will pass a bill postponing the village elections.
Senate leaders earlier said it is too late to make a move for the postponement of the elections considering that the Congress has only a few session days left before it goes on recess for the summer. (SunStar Philippines)