VOTE FOR THE RIGHT LEADERS: GORDON CALLS ON BRGY/SK VOTERS

With the period for filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections ending today (Saturday), Senator Richard J. Gordon has called on voters to be discerning and elect the right leaders of their barangays.

Gordon stressed that barangay and SK officials serve the grassroots, with the barangay being the smallest political unit, hence the officials must be competent and not involved in illegal drugs and other illegal activities.

"Ang mga barangay at SK officials ang forefront of public service dahil sila ang pinakamalapit sa tao. Dapat ang magpapatakbo ng ating mga barangay ay competent at hindi sangkot sa mga illegal na gawain gaya ng droga. Kaya dapat suriin natin ng husto ang ating mga kandidato para mapili natin ang ating mga dapat iboto," he advised.

The said election is set for May 14, 2018 after being postponed twice under the Duterte administration.

The Commission on Elections has set the election period from April 14 to May 21, with the filing of COC's originally scheduled from April 14 to April 20, was extended to April 21 following concerns raised by the National Youth Commission that the COC's filed were insufficient to fill up the positions available.

The campaign period will be from May 4 to 12. The positions of punong barangay (village captain), seven kagawads (members of the Sangguniang Barangay or village council), SK chairperson, and seven SK members will be up for grabs.

The country has 42,041 barangays, as of February 13, 2018.