Comelec sets hearing on barangay, SK polls

COTABATO CITY -- As far as the Commission on Elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Comelec-ARMM), preparations for the barangay and SK elections continue, a poll official said.Lawyer Ray Sumalipao, Comelec-ARMM regional director, told DXMS Radyo Bida that as far as his office is concerned the scheduled barangay and SK elections will push through unless officially declared by Comelec national office.Last week, the Comelec through minute resolution no. 17-0743 scheduled two dates for the public hearings on January 22 in Zamboanga City, and January 29 in Cotabato City.Sumalipao said the public hearing in Cotabato City will be at Alnor Convention Center. The consultations today are meant to help the Comelec determine whether or not the upcoming elections should be postponed in Mindanao, Sumalipao said.Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, Martial Law administrator, has announced he sees no reason topostpone village polls in Mindanao after Martial Law in Mindanao was extended to one year from December.According to Article 1, Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code, the commission may motu propio postpone elections in a particular location, after due notice and hearing, when the holding of orderly and honest elections would become impossible due to violence, terrorism, destruction of election paraphernalia, among others.