Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista on Friday said they will follow whatever President Rodrigo Duterte decides regarding appointing barangay officials instead of electing them, noting however that a law should be passed first.
"Alam niyo sa Comelec, ang aming mandato ay mag-implement po ng mga batas tungkol sa ating halalan. Ngayon 'yung policy decision ay nasa ating liderato. So kami kung ano mang magiging pasya ng ating Pangulo at ng ating Kongreso, 'yun po ang aming susundin," Bautista said in an interview on News To Go.
"Alam ko na madalas pong ipinagpapaliban, so pino-postpone po 'yung election. Although 'yung pag-a-appoint, bago po ito. Sa aking palagay pwedeng gawin 'yan, kaya lang kailangan po 'yang isabatas," he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said that he is considering appointing barangay officials instead of calling for a local election.
“It’s a bit messy. Kasi kapag tinanggal mo rin ang mga gagong ito, magsigawan—we are looking for a way to appoint na lang the barangay captains,” he said in a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport shortly after his arrival from Myanmar and Thailand.
“But ang mechanism to go about it—ako, you know the President has always the power to appoint. But I am going to compromise with the Church and everybody. They can nominate three citizens,” he added.
Preparing for 2017 polls
Bautista, on his part, said they will continue preparing for the barangay elections which will be held on October 23, 2017.
"Kami po sa Comelec patuloy po 'yung aming paghahanda. Although ang pinagtutuunan namin ng pansin ngayon ay 'yung ating registration na hanggang Abril 29 ng taong na ito," Bautista said.
He said they are currently focusing on the voters' registration and have provided satellite registrations to ease the process.
"Ang ginagawa namin iba ngayon ay imbes na hinihintay namin ang botante ngayon na tumungo sa aming tanggapan, kami po sa Comelec ang aming mga election officers ang nagsasagawa ng satellite registrations.
Kami po ang pumupunta sa mga botante, kung saan man maraming botante para po mas maging madali at mas maging maginhawa ang proseso ng registration," Bautista said.
Duterte also reminded Filipinos to vote wisely as 40 percent of barangay chiefs had drug links.
'Respect Duterte's view'
Bautista, meanwhile, said the public should respect the view of Duterte on appointing barangay officials.
"Ang Pangulo ang mayroong pinakamaraming kaalaman tungkol sa mga bagay na ito. Ako personally hindi ko masasabi kung ano ba talaga ang pinanggagalingan ng pondo ng ating mga tatakbo," he said.
"Bilang (siya ang) Pangulo natin, siguro dapat nating respetuhin ang ganyang pananaw. Siguro nga maganda na pag-usapan, pag-debatihan 'yan ng Kongreso para gumawa sila ng policy decision tungkol sa bagay na ito," he added.
Asked on whether barangay officials can further extend their term, Bautista said, "Pwede po. 'Pag sinabi po ng batas na ipapasa nila na amendahan itong kasalukuyang batas ay pwede pang magkaroon ng further extension."
"Pero pwede rin nga pong magkaroon ng provision na nagsasabing tatanggalin sila at mag-a-appoint na lang, so depende po 'yan sa batas," he added.