By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) warned, yesterday, the plan by President Rodrigo Duterte to postpone barangay elections and, instead, appoint officials, is a “clear prelude to dictatorship.”
GAWA Secretary-General Wennie Sancho explained Duterte’s proposal is contrary to existing law, in which barangay officials should be elected in a democratic process.
He said it is the “sovereign right” of the people to elect officials and “all authority emanates from them.”
Sancho added the president cannot use the pretext of “narco-politics’ as to why he is pushing for the appointment of barangay officials because it would violate the Constitution.
“The move, in fact, is already dictatorial,” he asserted. “This is no longer a revolutionary government, unlike the case of the late former President Cory Aquino.”
Last week, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno confirmed Duterte is seeking to postpone barangay elections and, instead of voting, barangay officials will be appointed by the president himself, following proper consultations with city or town mayors.
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. believes he should have the authority to appoint barangay leaders, however, Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya said the DILG should be the leading body in choosing local barangay officials and not mayors./WDJ