Comelec readies for May polls
DESPITE PLANS FOR ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT
THE COMMISSION on Elections in Baguio City continues to prepare for the upcoming Barangay and SK political exercise even as it awaits Congress for another deferment.
Comelec Baguio City Election Officer Atty. John Paul Martin reiterated a possible waste in preparations of the poll body if another deferment of election will be done.
"There is a proposal in the House of Representatives to postpone the supposed elections from May to October of this year, but from how we look at it, can the representatives fast track its postponement bill for it to become a law on time," Martin ques-
tioned.
Two separate bills are still pending before the House of Representatives and the Senate, which call for the deferment of the same elections this 2018.
While awaiting Congress, Martin have called on prospective candidates vying for a seat as barangay chairperson and seven members of the Sangguniang Barangay which will be elected once the date may have been finalized.
For the youth council, one Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson and seven members of the Sangguniang Kabataan will be elected.
The COCs should be filed at the office of the election officer of the city, municipality or district where the candidate seeks to be elected.
"The Barangay and SK elections have been scheduled this May 14, 2018, in fact, the filing of COC's have been set for April 14-20, 2018 with the campaign period set from May 4-12 of this year followed by the elections," the poll representative explained.
To run for a barangay elective position, a candidate must be a Filipino citizen, a registered voter in the barangay where he intends to be elected and a resident for at least one year;
At least 18 years old and able to read Filipino, any other local language or dialect.
Fo r the Sangguniang Kabataan, candidates should be a Filipino citizen between 18 to 24 years old, a qualified voter of the Katipunan ng Kabataan, a resident of the barangay for at least one year; Must not be related 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 he seeks to be elected; Must not have been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude, and able to read and write Filipino, English or the local dialect.
The prohibited acts during the campaign period are removing, destroying, obliterating, defacing, tampering or preventing distribution of lawful election propaganda; making any donation or gift in cash or in kind; appointing or using special policemen, special or confidential agents or the like; and using armored land, water or air craft; policemen and provincial guards acting as bodyguards or security guards of public official or candidates; construction or maintenance of barangay-funded roads and bridges; appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new position, promotion, giving salary increases, remuneration or privileges.
Also prohibited are the carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons; use of security personnel or body guards by candidates; transfer or detail of officers and employees in the civil service including public school teachers, and the suspension of any elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay officer.
The city's poll body expects close to 2000 candidates to file their candidacy in the Barangay and SK elections this year.