MANILA — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero told members of the Liga ng mga Barangay of Naga City, Camarines Sur that the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) is looking at pushing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in December this year, subject to the approval of Congress.

The Liga ng mga Barangay was at the Senate on Monday with former Vice President and now Naga City Mayor-elect Leni Robredo, for a courtesy call to Escudero. 

According to Escudero, “Ang talakayan sa LEDAC nung isang linggo, ang direksyong tinatahak ay matutuloy ang eleksyon pero pagpapasyahan pa yan ng Kamara at Senado.”

Escudero said LEDAC is also leaning towards a four-year term for winners in the next village and youth polls, but this is still to be finalized. 

“Pinagkasunduan na yung term ay apat na taon sa LEDAC, pero uulitin ko, pag-uusapan, tatalakayin at pagbobotohan pa rin yan sa plenaryo ng Kamara at ng Senado,” Escudero said. 

“Ang pinasang bersyon ng Senado ay postponed ang eleksyon pero four years ang term. Ang pinasa ng Kamara postponed pero six years ang term. Pero yung napag-usapan sa LEDAC noong nakarang linggo tuloy, pero apat na taon yung susunod,” he added. 

“Kapag walang ginawa ang Senado at Kongreso eh di yung batas na umiiral ang masusunod, tuloy ang eleksyon. Dapat may gawin ang Senado at Kongreso para mapagpaliban ang eleksyon o para i-fix po ang term,” Escudero said.  

Robredo, for her part, said she wants the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) postponed. 

“Kung matutuloy kasi yung eleksyon ngayon, sobrang iksi ng term so tingin ko lang parang hindi mabibigyan yung current na, incumbent barangay officials ng enough time para mapakita yung mga gawain, yung mga pinromise during the campaign or yung mga plano maisakatuparan. Kaya sabi ko, ayoko sanang matuloy dahil tingin ko yung just over two years na term sobrang iksi,” Robredo explained.

Escudero mentioned that the BSKE cannot be postponed without fixing the term first as mandated by the Supreme Court.