Candidates for barangay posts prepare for October polls

SAN LUIS - Despite the looming proposal of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to postpone the holding of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on October, incumbents barangay officials and individuals who wanted to run for the same offices are now busy completing their line ups for the upcoming elections.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr. earlier declared that he would propose to the Congress the suspension of the barangay elections.

He said barangay elections is too close to the recent mid-term polls.

However, President Benigno Aquino III is quick in disapproving Brillantes' proposal. 

"Unless I see very good reasons to postpone, I think I’ll stick with my stand previously na kakayanin nila o dapat kayanin nila to hold (the barangay elections) as scheduled,” the President previously told media men.

In Candaba town, several barangay captains who remained loyal to outgoing Mayor Jerry Pelayo are complaining about the alleged movement in their respective communities asking them to withdraw from seeking re-election to give way to other candidates.

"Hindi na yata maganda ang nangyayari ngayon. Bakit kaming mga nakaupong kapitan ang pinapa-atras nila eh kami ang kapitan," Salapungan barangay captain  bared during the recent  general meeting held at the session hall of the municipal government.

However, incumbent barangay captains on the other hand suggested to the incoming local officials to remain neutral and refrain from coming into public to support any particular candidate this coming barangay elections.

"Dapat huwag na lang silang makialam. Bayaan na lang nila kaming maglaban sa aming kanya kanya barangay at least sinuman ang manalo ay magiging kakampi nila," one of the barangay captains lamented.