SEN. NANCY REITERATES APPEAL TO MALACAÑANG TO FILL COMELEC VACANCIES
says Senate will push for barangay elections on May

Senator Nancy Binay reiterated her appeal to Malacañang to fill the three vacancies in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after the House of Representatives on Monday voted to postpone the barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan elections to October.

"We reiterate our appeal to Malacañang to appoint three more commissioners to Comelec to ensure smooth preparations for the May 14 barangay polls," Binay said.

"As far as the Senate is concerned, tuloy ang barangay at Sanguniang Kabataan elections sa Mayo," she added.

Binay said the vacant commissioner spots in Comelec is an urgent concern and that filling these vacancies would negate the need to postpone the barangay polls.

"Hindi na po natin kailangan ipagpaliban pa ang barangay elections kung pupunan ng Malacañang ang mga bakante sa Comelec," she said.

Binay added that while it is possible for a four-member en banc to function, it would be troublesome because it is the legal minimum for the poll body to function.

"Hirap na hirap daw yung mga division na magkaroon ng quorum kasi isipin mo tatlong miyembro ng COMELEC ang bakante," Binay said.

Last year, then elections chief Andres Bautista stepped down from office as he was set to face impeachment hearings. Meanwhile, Commissioners Christian Robert Lim and Arthur Lim stepped down form their posts on February 2.

This leaves Comelec with four active members: Commissioners Sheriff Abas, Rowena Guanzon, Luie Tito Guia, and Al Parreño.