Caritas Philippines, the social action arm of the Catholic Church in the country, expressed “strong opposition” to the proposed postponement of the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) elections set for December this year.
“Pushing back the barangay and SK elections for the third time since 2016 reflects how our national political leaders undermine the importance of barangay level politics in the exercise of our democratic rights,” said Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, national director of Caritas Philippines.
In a statement released on Saturday, May 28, the prelate of Kidapawan said “it is not right for the government to suppress electoral processes.”
He said the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections “are seen as the most accessible and organic form of citizen’s engagement in public service and governance.”
In 2020, the barangay and SK elections were postponed to 2022 due to the pandemic. The same reason has been cited for the proposed deferment of the budget for the elections.
Two separate bills in the House of Representatives have been filed seeking to reset the polls to either May 2024 or December 2025.
“Our government needs to step up its game to ensure good planning and better execution, and not to use this as a lame excuse to postpone the December elections,” said Father Tony Labiao, Caritas Philippines executive secretary.
The Legal Network for Truthful Elections and the Ateneo Human Rights Center had also expressed their opposition to the proposed postponement of the polls, saying the delay “contravenes the standard of period elections as provided in Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
“We see the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections as the most attainable level of organic citizens’ participation in public service and governance,” said the groups in a statement.
“[It] is the best testament that citizens with limited resources would like to take part in nation-building given the opportunities,” it added.
