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Robredo: Appointment of barangay execs a 'step backward'

March 28, 2017 | 6:00pm

Robredo: Appointment of barangay execs a 'step backward'

Philippine Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo addresses the 16th National Convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Pasay, south of Manila, Philippines on Thursday, March 23, 2017. House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez recently said, he is mulling to file impeachment complaint against Robredo for sending a video message to the United Nations Side Session at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs Annual Meeting allegedly criticizing extra-judicial killings in the so-called war on drugs by President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte himself is the object of an impeachment complaint filed by another congressman for the thousands of alleged killings in the country.

AP Photo / Aaron Favila

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo supports the postponement of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled in October but not the appointment of OICs.

In an interview at St. Paul University in Quezon City, Robredo said that the postponement is for the barangays to be more independent.

"Kasi iyong sakin naman, iyong pag-postpone para sana ayusin na mas palakasin iyong independence sa mga barangay," Robredo said.

The vice president, however, added that she does not agree with a proposal to have the president appoint barangay officials.

"Parang babalik tayo doon sa time na magiging beholden na naman iyong mga barangay officials sa mga powers that be. Magpapalakasan para sila ay ma-appoint," Robredo said.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has filed a bill to postpone elections to 2020, terminate current barangay officials and replace them with Duterte appointees.

The bill was filed after President Duterte said that he is inclined to postpone barangay elections and appoint the officials himself instead to keep "narco-politics" out of local elections.

"The local elections is just around the corner. Kung nandyan ito at they can influence the electorate, magkakaroon ng utang na loob itong mga officials, delikado, because, then, you have completed the division of this country into a narco-politics state," Duterte said in a speech last week.

Robredo said that appointed barangay officials will be controlled by the one who gave them their positions.

"Gusto natin tanggalin iyong too much dependence ng mga barangay sa mga politiko. Kasi ang konsepto natin ng barangay dapat sila apolitical," Robredo said.

She added that the Philippines has already achieved a lot in terms of barangay independence.

"Pag binalik natin iyong sistema ng pag-appoint, malaking paurong ito. Kaya sa akin, kung i-popostpone, i-postpone ito. Pero huwag naman appointment," Robredo said.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III meanwhile, said that a law is needed before another barangay elections postponement is allowed.

"We need a law because it is in the Constitution that the term of office of barangay officials shall be provided by law," Pimentel said.

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