MANILA — The principal author of the Local Government Code is opposing President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to cancel barangay elections this year and to appoint barangay officials instead.

Duterte said he wants barangay elections canceled because 40% of barangay captains are allegedly involved in drugs.

But former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., considered the “Father of the Local Government Code,” said appointing the officials would violate the the purpose of the law.

"Iyong appointing na iyon, sa tingin ko, kinukulangan natin ang ating pakay doon sa Local Government Code na ang kapangyarihan na nasa kamay ng central government mabawas-bawasan at malipat na doon sa mga taongbayan sa kanilang mga lugar, tulad ng barangay," he said in an interview with radio DZMM.

(If officials are appointed, it will undermine the purpose of the Local Government Code, which is meant to reduce the influence of central government and instead empower the electorate on the barangay level.)

"There are many circumstances na maka-apekto doon sa magandang objective bakit hindi matutuloy, pero hindi naman ibig sabihin the solution is appointment. I don’t think so," he added.

(There are many circumstances that can affect the code's noble objective and why the elections shouldn't push through, but it doesn't mean the solution is appointment.)

Pimentel, founder of Duterte's political party, PDP-Laban, also underscored that the loyalty of appointed officials would generally be to the appointing power.

"Pero kung hindi sila ina-appoint ng isang tao, ang loyalty nila ay nasa taongbayan na naghalal sa kanila," he said.

(But if they are not appointed by one person, their loyalty will be with the voting public.)

Duterte last year signed a law postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls to October this year. This meant that barangay officials retained their posts on a holdover capacity.

He said he wants to postpone anew this year’s barangay polls, believing only barangay officials with connections to the illegal drug trade will win.