The House of Representatives on Tuesday refuted Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s claim that the chamber has yet to approve a bill adjusting the term lengths of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, with its spokesperson clarifying that the measure was already passed on third and final reading.
“On the barangay and SK elections, I also saw the press conference of Senate President Chiz Escudero, and unfortunately, it appears the Senate President is misinformed,” House spokesperson, lawyer Princess Abante, said in a mix of English and Filipino in response to a reporter’s question.
She said the bill in question had already hurdled the plenary and would be transmitted shortly to the Senate for the next legislative step.
“And that’s why I’m here to make sure we correct fake news and misinformation,” Abante said.
The bill in question, which seeks to amend the Local Government Code to define fixed six-year terms for barangay and SK officials, was one of the key measures identified in the House’s recent productivity report.
“It is not true what the Senate President said that the bill that adjusts the term of our barangay officials has not yet passed the committee level,” Abante clarified.
The House official noted that even Escudero’s relative had voted in favor of the measure’s passage.
She also emphasized that the House had already done its part, with the measure moving toward bicameral deliberations.
“The bill will be transmitted for the bicameral conference as well,” Abante said.
“And again, the House of Representatives is ready to fix, debate, and ratify all the pending measures in our bicameral conferences,” she added.
