Akbayan-Cebu criticizes government inconsistency on barangay, SK polls

Akbayan-Cebu hit President Gloria Arroyo and the Department of Interior and Local Government for their inconsistency over the issue whether to hold the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataang elections as mandated.

Ernie Edralin, Akbayan spokesperson, said their group was strongly disappointed especially when Arroyo certified urgent a bill in Congress seeking to postpone the coming elections.

“This is an indication of the lack of sincerity and commitment to good governance in the barangay level,” Edralin said, adding that the candidates and the Commission on Elections themselves have been put into a stressful wait-and-see situation amid the preparations they have been making so far.

Edralin said his group is supporting the stand of local governments, including Cebu City, in urging the Senate to block the move to postpone the October 29 elections to May 2008. “Proceed with the elections consistent with the democratic ideals,” he said.

City top officials, Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Vice Mayor Michael Rama, have already maintained that the elections must push through.

Rama even delivered three privilege speeches opposing the attempt to reset the elections to next year, saying that “election delayed is democracy denied.”

Election is the time for the people to exercise their rights to vote and choose the leaders who they think can serve them better, the vice-mayor said.

While the issue of postponement is still uncertain, however, the Comelec went on its preparations to hold the election successful and peaceful. Campaign period will start on October 19 and end on October 24.

The Comelec had issued Resolution 8313 deputizing the PNP under its supervision and control and Resolution 8312 mandating the setting up of at least one Comelec checkpoint in every city or municipality to be manned by the police. 

It provided however that in areas that the Comelec and the AFP might identify as “under serious threat,” more checkpoints may be established upon the discretion of either the police or the military.

The commanding officer or team leader of the checkpoint, who is either a police or a military, must inform the election officer, and non-government organizations and other civic organizations about the establishment and location of a Comelec checkpoint in a particular area.

Those manning a checkpoint must also be in complete uniform, and that they should conduct checks in a way that is of the least inconvenience on the person being searched, and with political and human rights being respected, the resolution further said. — Wenna A. Berondo and Garry B. Lao/RAE