MANILA - (1st UPDATE) A Senate committee report on the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to October 2018, if adopted, would allow President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint officers-in-charge (OICs) in place of incumbents who are on the president's drug list.
Section 3 of Committee Report 163 of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation would give Duterte the power to replace incumbent barangay officials on the "duly confirmed and validated drug list provided to and in possession of the President."
"Inclusion of the name of an incumbent barangay official in the duly confirmed and validated drug list provided to and in possession of the President shall constitute sufficient cause for the appointment of officers-in-charge for the barangay."
Senator Richard Gordon, committee vice-chairman, formally referred the report to the plenary on Monday.
It is expected to be deliberated during Tuesday's plenary session.
The House of Representatives earlier approved on third and final reading House Bill 6308, postponing the October 2017 Barangay and SK Elections to May 2018. - with reports from Christian Esguerra and Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News
Senate, barangay elections, narco-list, Rodrigo Duterte, SK elections, drug list