Comelec wants postponement of SK polls

MANILA -- Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes is recommending the postponement of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections this year and possibly its abolition.

In an interview with ANC Tuesday afternoon, Brillantes said its postponement will allow the poll body to see whether the barangay can still fully function even without the SK.

"If it is postponed, we already can see whether the barangay can function without the SK... If it can function smoothly without SK, we can dispense with the SK and we don't have really to hold any further elections. Dun na tayo papunta sa abolition siguro," Brillantes said.

He noted that the SK, which is composed of a chairman and several councilors (kagawad), has not proven itself to be effective and has become a breeding ground for corruption.

"Madami ngang proposal, they are saying that SK is a breeding ground for very young people learning about politics, handling money, corruption at an early stage," he said.

"Wala namang sweldo yung mga kagawad. Ang nagtatrabaho lang diyan ay yung SK chairman," he added.

The Comelec is set to meet with the Congress to discuss its possible postponement, he said.

But, for the meantime, Brillantes said the poll body is continuing preparations for both the barangay and SK elections, which are scheduled on October 28.

Senator Bongbong Marcos, head of the Senate Committee on Local Government, is also recommending the postponement of the SK polls until 2014 to give way to various reforms in the SK system.