File DQ vs BSKE bets violating poll rules – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — As the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections officially ended yesterday in most parts of the country, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged BSKE candidates to be watchful and file charges against rivals who violate election laws.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said they are relying on the vigilance of candidates to prevent poll offenses, including violations of laws against political dynasties among candidates in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or youth councils

“We welcome the filing of disqualification cases by their rival SK candidates or any interested parties against those who are relatives of incumbent national or local officials,” Garcia said.

Due to limited resources, the Comelec chief admitted that it is difficult for local poll offices to immediately determine if the one filing the COC for the SK election has relatives who are incumbent elected national or local officials.

“We are left with no choice but to accept the COC as the local Comelec offices have no information if they have elected relatives,” he said.

The SK Reform Act prohibits those with relatives within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal or barangay official, in the locality from seeking SK post.

Thus, Garcia encouraged rivals of candidates who are attempting to violate the SK Reform Act to file appropriate charges against the latter.

Over 1.3 million COCs filed

Meanwhile, the Comelec yesterday reported that the number of aspirants who have filed their COCs reached over 1.3 million.

“Based on the partial consolidated report of COCs filed as of 11:30 a.m. of Sept. 3, they reached 1,316,265,” Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiango disclosed.

The figure excludes those from La Union, Aurora, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sultan Kudarat and Lanao del Sur which have yet to send in their reports.

The COC filing period for the BSKE started last Aug. 28 and was supposed to end last Sept. 2, but the Comelec had to extend the filing in several areas, including the National Capital Region (NCR), due to heavy flooding.

On the eve of the deadline, Garcia said there are still many aspirants filing COCs in Manila and minimal numbers in Quezon City, Caloocan and Las Piñas.

Most aspirants or 861,171 are males while 455,094 are female. Of the total figure, 92,173 are aspiring to be barangay chairpersons while 690,531 want to be barangay council members.

There are 85,816 applicants for SK chairperson and 447,745 aspirants for SK council members.

‘Kontra Bigay’ vs vote-buying

In a related development, the Comelec has formed a “Kontra Bigay” group to counter vote-buying during the coming BSKE.

Lawyer Jerbee Cortez, assistant regional director of Comelec Region 2, said Kontra Bigay is composed of government agencies such as the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Information Agency, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Philippine Association of Law Schools.

Cortez added that the group is a vital instrument in preventing vote-buying because it gives the right to everyone in reporting election anomalies in their respective places.

Vote-buying involves giving money, gift or in kind, according to the Comelec official.

He warned candidates that the campaign period is still on Oct. 19-28 and those who will conduct premature campaigning will face legal sanctions that may result in disqualification. — Jun Elias