A lawmaker claimed on Wednesday that barangay captains in his district were being mobilized to join a rally to support the postponement of the 2018 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

"Nag-report na rin sa akin ang mga barangay captain (ng) Caloocan na sila ay pinadalan ng text messages at pinapupunta sila sa Plaza Miranda bukas," Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice said in an interview on Unang Balita.

Erice said he was one of many Metro Manila lawmakers invited to a gathering last week to show support for Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali's proposal to postpone the local elections for a third time.

He and other lawmakers were encouraged to bring their constituents to Plaza Miranda to ask for the postponement of the barangay and SK elections to October 2018 and support Charter change.

Umali himself admitted that he did not receive approval for the rally from President Rodrigo Duterte, the prime advocate for the shift of government to federalism.

Erice said in the Unang Balita interview that certain persons with ill intentions are using barangay officials to push their supposed agenda to postpone elections.

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"Ginagamit lang itong mga barangay officials ng mga may maitim na balak na, biruin mo, limang buwan lang i-extend 'yung kanilang term para lang mai-coincide 'yung plebisito at maisulong 'yung talaga namang dahilan, 'yung no el (no elections)," he said.

Malacañang on Monday said local elections will push through in May amid claims from Senator Franklin Drilon that pro-Charter change representatives will railroad the amendments for the 1987 Constitution to make way for a charter change plebiscite before 2019.

Erice thanked Malacañang for the declaration but warned that elements who wished to push for Charter change before 2019 remain at the House of Representatives.

"Nagpapasalamat nga po ako sa paglilinaw ng Palasyo na 'yan, pero hindi pa rin napipigil 'yung Kamara sa pagsusulong ito," he said.

Postponing the local elections, Erice said, is an act of disrespect towards Philippine democracy.

"Kung ginagambala natin 'yung democratic process, eh parang nilalaro na lang natin. Pangatlong postponement na lang natin ang barangay elections," he said.

Should the plebiscite push through, sitting officials will remain in office until the transition to a federal government is finished by 2020. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News