By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Commission on Elections (Comelec) election supervisor, Atty. Jessie Suarez, yesterday confirmed a bill is currently before the House of Representatives proposing the postponement of the upcoming May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, which, if passed, would be the third time the polls would be postponed.

In an interview with Watchmen Daily Journal, Suarez said it’s up to Congress to decide and, regardless of their decision, they are ready for the polls.

Suarez, who was in Iloilo City yesterday for a meeting with officials from the Comelec regional office, said the matter was not discussed as their office was ordered to proceed with preparations.

Earlier, Surigao del Sur second district Rep. Johnny Pimentel filed House Bill No. 7072, which seeks to postpone the said polls until October of this year.

Pimentel explained, given coordination costs and expenses associated with organizing elections, the Comelec and other involved agencies need additional time to ensure credible and effective barangay elections.

Oriental Mindoro second district Rep. Reynaldo Umali filed a similar bill last week, however, his proposal would postpone polls until, at least, May 2019./DGB, WDJ