No barangay elections as Digong signs law postponing balloting

MANILA (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections scheduled late this month, the Palace announced on Tuesday.Quoting Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) assistant secretary Marie Banaag said the law was already signed by the President. But he just had to wait for the courier, the aircraft that would bring home the signed law and for proper transmittal to the proper offices, Banaag said in a press briefing in Malacañan.In his previous public pronouncements, the President said he was against the conduct of the barangay polls because many barangay officials were involved in the illegal drug trade.Pushing through with the election would entrench them in power, President Duterte said, as narco-politics already had a grip on the country’s political system.The Duterte administration has carried out a relentless campaign against illegal drugs, with close to 800,000 drug users and pushers surrendering to authorities.The President vowed to continue the campaign until the last drug addict or drug trafficker is driven out of the streets. (PNA)