36 SK bets in CL disqualified

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - At least 36 candidates for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections in Central Luzon were disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for either being under or over the mandated 18 to 24 year old age limit set by law.

This was according to Comelec Region III Director Temie Lambino, who disclosed that disqualified candidates allegedly falsified their age in the Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) they personally filed before the commission.

“Upon validation, it was learned that these candidates did not indicate their actual age on their certificates of candidacy. They were either under or overaged for the SK election and shall not be allowed to run for any SK position,” he told Sun.Star Pampanga.

Lambino revealed that out of the 36 disqualified candidates from all over Central Luzon, 13 ran for the SK chairman post while 23 ran for SK council membership.

If the said candidates won in the elections, Lambino said that the Comelec already ruled that their victory would be considered void and that their proclamation would be suspended, while suspension of the effect of proclamation will be implemented for those who were already proclaimed winners.

“Whatever it is, they will never assume their post in the SK come June 30, 2018,” said Lambino.

Aside from being disqualified, Lambino noted that the candidates may also be charged with perjury or falsification of public documents for altering their age for the purpose of deceiving the public, particularly the electoral body and the government.

“Their COCs are signed under oath and falsification of any information is punishable by the law. They can also be charged with electoral offense because they already knew at the onset the mandatory age for the SK election. Nonetheless, it will still be up to our law department if they will let us execute such charges,” he said.