Brillantes: SK, recall polls hampering preps for 2016 elections

Less than a month before his retirement as the country's poll chief, Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Monday said the poll body is preparing for two more elections before 2016.

These include the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on February 21 and an upcoming recall election in Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Brillantes said during the weekly Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel press conference.

While Brillantes claimed that the poll body is getting ready for the SK elections next month, he said that they still hope that the polls will be deferred anew to 2016 in sync with the October barangay elections.

"Ang SK Election naka-set naman talaga sa February 21. Ang problema lang may postponement sa House of Representatives pero hindi pa dumarating sa Senate. Kapag hindi dumaan at hindi na-approve sa Senate, matutuloy," he said.

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, the Senate local government committee chairman, cannot be immediately contacted for comment.

Brillantes said P1.1 billon has been allocated for the SK election, but they have been prudent in spending because the polls may be postponed.

"Gusto sana namin sabay na sa October 2016 barangay elections. Nakakaabala sa preparation namin para sa 2016. Magususpindi pa kami ng registration ngayon because anytime there's an election you have to suspend the registration," he explained.

Recall election

Meanwhile, Brillantes noted that a recall election will pursue in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, as ordered by the Supreme Court last year.

The high court last November said that an election recall may push through for the mayoral post in the said city.

"Kami [sa Comelec] ayaw na sana namin ng recall, nakakaabala 'yan sa preparasyon namin sa 2016, kaya lang may order ang Korte Suprema na ituloy at meron daw kaming funding, may savings kami na pwedeng gamitin so tinutuloy na namin. Tuloy 'yan," Brillantes said.

The poll chief said that it will push through before May 2015 as recall elections should not be done one year prior to an election.

He said that election recall in Bulacan and Cagayan de Oro may not push through anymore due to lack of time.

Brillantes is set to retire on February 2, 2015. —KBK, GMA News