By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

According to Kabalikat ng Mamamayan (Kabayan) Party-list Rep. Harry Roque, the House of Representatives will approve the bill seeking the postponement of the upcoming barangay elections.
The congressman, who was in town attending the Negros Island Regional Development Council (NIRDC) meeting in Talisay City yesterday, also expressed his support for barangay officials to be appointed instead of elected.
“The Comelec (Commission on Elections) is actively preparing for the barangay polls,” he explained. “If they have to postpone it then they should conduct the appointments of barangay officials because there is no legal basis for a hold over.”
He added, while elections promote democracy, barangay elections are a “waste of money.”
Roque noted Congress reopens on July 24 and representatives are looking to pass the bill within one week.
House Bill 5359, proposed by Surigao del Norte second district Rep. Robert Barbers, seeks to postpone barangay elections and give the power to appoint barangay officials to President Rodrigo Duterte./WDJ