By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following multiple pronouncements from various elected officials assuming the upcoming barangay elections will be postponed, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Public Safety Jesus Hinlo, Jr. said Congress has yet to make a final decision on the matter.
“Let’s not speculate ahead with what the Congress will decide,” he said.
In a recent interview, the DILG official said it is also still undecided on the matter of incumbent barangay officials, whether to keep them in their positions or to appoint a new batch.
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.
However, last month, Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano stated the entire Visayan bloc vowed to support the holdover of incumbent barangay officials in the event the upcoming barangay elections are postponed./WDJ