By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

There is no truth to a rumor circulating that village polls had been suspended by the House of Representatives, according to Abang Lingkod Partylist Representative Stephen Paduano.
The solon clarified yesterday there is still no consensus on the potential second postponement of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections rescheduled for October this year. Originally, the polls were supposed to be held in October 2016 but was postponed due to high costs and voter fatigue following the divisive and consequential May elections.
Paduano said he spoke with Rep. Sherwin Tugna (CIBAC partylist) who sits as vice chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Reforms, and was informed the committee has not deliberated House Bill 5359, which seeks to postpone village polls yet again and reset it to the 4th Monday of May 2020. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte, Ind.), also gives power to President Rodrigo R. Duterte to appoint a new set of barangay officials nationwide until the next election.
Paduano said he shares the sentiment of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who earlier noted the fate of village polls would be determined during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.
“If the president says it would be a priority, the Congress will certainly act on it,” said Paduano. “Unless there would be another amendment, the barangay polls will push through in October.”
In his recent visit to Negros Occidental, Zubiri revealed he was informed by a Malacañang official that the president will give a statement about the barangay elections in his SONA./WDJ