Comelec disqualifies 10 BSKE winners

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-one candidates in the recently concluded barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) have been disqualified for premature campaigning and vote buying.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said 10 of the disqualified candidates won in the elections.

Nine were disqualified due to premature campaigning and another for vote buying.

Of the 10 candidates, two won as barangay captain, three as kagawad, two as SK chairperson and three as SK council member.

Of the disqualified candidates who lost, nine ran for SK kagawad and two for barangay council member.

Tarlac has the most number of disqualified candidates with seven followed by Batangas and Laguna with four each.

Two candidates were disqualified in Pampanga and one each in Manila, Quezon City, Rizal and Maguindanao del Norte.

The Comelec suspended the proclamation of winning candidates with pending disqualification cases due to vote buying as well as premature and illegal campaigning.

At least 318 disqualification cases – 292 for premature or illegal campaigning and 26 for vote buying – remain pending before the poll body.

Reelected Cavite village chief hurt

Meanwhile, a reelected barangay captain in Dasmariñas City in Cavite was wounded in a gun attack on Friday.

Benjamin Marcha, 57, of Barangay Luzviminda 1, and his wife were in a barangay patrol vehicle when they were attacked at around 5:30 a.m.

Marcha was taken to the Pagamutan ng Dasmariñas for treatment. His wife was unhurt.

An investigation is ongoing.– Ed Amoroso