No order for postponement SK polls set February 2015

CEBU, Philippines - While the bill that seeks to defer the Sangguniang Kabataan polls to October 2016 still pending before Congress, the Commission on Elections has marked February 21, 2015 in its calendar of activities as elections day.

Through resolution 9905, the Comelec en banc also set today as the last day for the different election offices to post the SK computerized voters’ list.

Per Comelec’s calendar of activities, election period starts on January 22 and ends on March 2, 2015.

Prohibited activities within this period includes establishment of a new SK precinct or alteration of its territory, “illegal release” of prisoners, carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons, use of security personnel by the candidates.

Filing of certificate of candidacy was set for February 7 to 9 while the campaign period is on February 11 to 19.

The Comelec also said that during the campaign, donating and gift giving, whether in kind or in cash, are prohibited along with the appointing of special policemen and agents, and destroying, tampering with, and preventing the distribution of lawful election propaganda.

Like in regular elections, campaigning during elections day is prohibited, as well as the selling, buying and serving of intoxicating liquor; giving and accepting free transportation, food, drinks and “things of value.”

On elections day, qualified SK voters can cast their ballots from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. This would be followed by the counting and canvassing of votes and proclamation of winning candidates.

The same calendar of activities set November 7 as last day of filing of petitions for voter’s inclusion of voters while last day to file petition for exclusion of voters is on November 12, 2014.

Comelec will also suspend during the whole month of February the ongoing nationwide voter registration, as well as the validation and updating of registration records for the May 9, 2016 synchronized national and local elections, to give way for the SK elections.

The Comelec said there are 126,731 SK registrants in Cebu, including the 83,970 qualified voters who registered July last year for the SK elections originally slated in October 2013.

The supposed 2013 SK elections were postponed after Congress approved Republic Act 10632 supposedly to give members time to legislate reforms for the current SK system.

Lawyer Ferdinand Gujilde, Cebu provincial election officer, said the bill postponing again the SK elections to October 2016 for it to synchronize with the barangay elections has already passed second reading at the House of Representatives.

 “I personally welcome that (postponement) because the reason why we deferred the SK elections is to give way for reforms and probably its abolition. Since the time nga atong gi-defer until now wa may napasar nga balaod to reform the SK system,” he said.

“Kung atong ipadayon ang election on Februay 21, it is as if we did not defer the elections because the purpose niya sa pag-defer was not met or satisfied,” he added.— (FREEMAN)