The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) on Monday, August 22, urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exercise its power to decide when to hold the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
The poll watchdog group cited paragraph (3), Section 2, of Article IX-C of the Constitution for this “ecide, except those involving the right to vote, all questions affecting elections, including determination of the number and location of polling places, appointment of election officials and inspectors, and registration of voters."
"The phrase 'all questions affecting elections' is broad enough to include setting the date of the BSKE. After all, the Comelec is an independent Constitutional Commission, under Article IX, Section 1 of the Constitution," said Namfrel in a statement.
Several bills have been filed in Congress for the postponement of the BSKE.
The group also cited Article X, Section 8 of the Constitution which grants to Congress the power to determine by law the term of office of barangay officials.
"The term of office of elective local officials, except barangay officials, which shall be determined by law," Namfrel said.
"Only the term of office is expressly stated as that which should be determined by law, not the decision when to hold the elections for barangay and SK officials," it added.
Given these, Namfrel again called for the holding of the BSKE on Dec. 5, 2022.
"The voice of the people should always be heard, never deferred," said Namfrel.
Since 1983, Namfrel has been accredited by the Comelec as its citizens' arm.