'Miracle' needed to postpone barangay, SK polls — lawmaker

A House leader said on Friday Congress needs a "miracle" to approve by the first week of September a law postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. “A miracle will be needed kung first week of September," Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales said in a text message to GMANews.TV. During the House suffrage and electoral reforms committee hearing on Wednesday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Jose Armando Melo asked Congress to hand down its decision about the two polls early next month. “Para yung level of comfort ng Comelec kung alam naming mapo-postpone, we would not go into unnecessary expenses and preparation, hindi na kami gagalaw. Pero kung we are left hanging mahirap naman yun," Melo said. He explained that they would continue with the preparations for the barangay and SK polls until a law is passed postponing both polls. Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara also doubted that the lawmakers could pass the needed measure soon. “I'm really not sure because congressmen seem somewhat divided – first on the issue of whether to postpone or not, second on when to hold barangay elections," he said in a separate text message. There are 22 bills and two resolutions filed in the House of Representatives seeking the postponement of the polls. The committee formed a technical working group to consolidate 22 bills on the postponement of the polls. The consolidated bills will be discussed on Monday next week. Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Aroyo Jr. and Davao Rep. Karlo Nograles, were optimistic that the polls would be postponed. “I believe so (that we will be able to pass the law). So far quorum (in the committee hearing and plenary) has never been a problem," Arroyo said. Nograles believed that they could approve the postponement quickly on the committee level. “As far as plenary deliberation is considered, it will depend on each and every member of the house on how he or she feels about it. But going by the informal survey conducted by Cong. Luis Villafuerte, more than 70 percent of congressmen want it postponed. After that it will depend on the senate. Then the president," he said. If the legislators would prioritize the matter, Nograles believes they could meet the deadline suggested by Comelec—the first week of September. Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, chairman of the committee, earlier expressed confidence about passing the law. “I’m a little bit confident because right now there are 22 authors and so far in our initial hearing no member of the House categorically expressed that he is against the postponement," he said. He believed they can finish the committee report next week, submit it to the plenary the week after and then vote on it. “I think the Senate, if it is the consensus of the senators, would be doing similar thing," he said. –VVP, GMANews.TV