Comelec 100% ready for barangay, SK polls

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is “100-percent ready” to carry out the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Oct. 30, according to an official.

Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco, however, noted that the poll body would still await a ruling on petitions before the Supreme Court (SC) to nullify the law that moved the date of the local elections.

“Until no decision comes out declaring Republic Act (RA) 11935 as unconstitutional, Comelec will push through,” Laudiangco told “The Chiefs” in Filipino in an interview aired on Cignal TV’s One News last Thursday night.

“As of this time, Comelec is 100-percent ready to conduct the elections,” he added.

RA 11935 declared the postponement of the barangay and SK elections originally scheduled in December last year and at the same time, mandated the community polls to be held on the last Monday of October 2023.

It also mandated newly elected barangay and SK officials to hold office starting Nov. 30 or a month after their election.

Shortly after the law was passed in September last year, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal asked the SC to invalidate the said law.

Macalintal then filed another petition compelling the high court to instruct Comelec to hold the barangay and SK elections this month.

Laudiangco also announced that the Comelec has finished printing all ballots, estimated at 92 million.

“The 92 million ballots are ready and packed, including their respective election returns, statements of votes and certificates of proclamation.” – Artemio Dumlao