The recent bill signed into law by the President “postponed” the previously scheduled barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections until October of next year. The lawmakers in almost unanimously passing the bill, reasoned that the “postponement” is necessary in order that the funds previously appropriated for the the elections may be used for the Covid-19 response. There have been heated discussions on whether the elections should be postponed and one of the arguments against it is the fact that the present barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials are already “over-staying” and the the elections should be held as scheduled to determine whether the people still want their officials or not. There are even some theories that the postponement is an “incentive” for the effort and work done by the barangay and SK officials during the recent presidential elections. Upon the announcement that the bill was signed by the president many of the incumbent baranggay and SK officials celebrated while those who intended to file their candidacies were sorely disappointed. Several days after the news, election lawyer Atty. Romulo Makalintal filed a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the law. According to him, the law amending the law regarding holding of barangay elections is unconstitutional because Congress in effect “appointed” the said officials rather than voted by the people.
I go with the argument of Makalintal. Of course being a law, congress can amend any provisions or repeal altogether the law setting the barangay and SK elections this December, but the fundamental question is, should they? The elections is usually given a regular interval especially in the presidential form of government just like the Philippines and the United States. The election being one of the means by which the will of the people is heard or expressed. It is the manifestation of the principle “sovereignty resides in the people”. Being the sovereign, the people must not be deprived of its prerogative to choose the officials of the government. As Makalintal said that the “voter’s right is disregarded” by the “postponement”. It is not the first time in our political history that the barangay elections have been postponed. In fact it has been almost regularly done so much so that the recent one has been expected. But why? Are our barangay officials so insignificant in our democratic form of government that their elections do not deserve any form of regularity? Why is it that the holding of the elections depends upon the whims of Congress? Is it not about time to respect the offices in the barangay and make the elections regular just like those in the municipalities and provinces? The point is, the barangay government if a good part of our government structure and the people through the ballot choose who they want to occupy the offices there. If their elections is regularly postponed, why not set the elections every six years instead and not dependent upon the caprices of congress. Some political analyst say that the reason is political strategy: During the presidential elections, barangay officials are given the promise that the elections will be postponed in exchange for their support. This is their analysis on the matter but whether it is true or not, I am not in the position to affirm or deny. But in our democratic form of government, should we not ask the question as to the real motive for the postponement? After all, it is our government.