COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) field offices in Cebu are prepared to accommodate more than 122,000 youths who registered for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election amid conflicting reports that the youth polls have been postponed again.
The 45-day election period for the Feb. 21 SK elections starts today, but www.inquirer.net reported that House majority floor leader Neptali Gonzales II informed them by text message that the Lower House and the Senate agreed to postpone the SK elections to 2016.
In response to questions about the postponement, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, said on Twitter: “For clarity (on) news that both Houses of Congress have agreed to postpone #SK2015 polls, no law to that effect has been signed yet.”
Data from the Provincial Elections Supervisor Office reveals that Cebu City has the most number of registered SK voters with 15,683 voters.
Voters
Mandaue City follows with 8,362 registered voters while Lapu-Lapu City has 7,092.
In Cebu Province, the first legislative district has the highest number of voters for the SK election with a total number of 18,439 voters.
Youth aged 15 to 17 will have a chance to run for the post of the barangay’s SK chairperson or one of the seven councilors.
Those interested to run can file their certificates of candidacy on Feb. 7, 9 and 10.
The campaign period will run from Feb. 11 to 19.
All permits to carry firearms outside one’s residence are suspended during the election period, which will end on March 2.
Members of the PNP and military are the only ones allowed to carry firearms, said Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Prudencio Bañas.
Government projects also cannot be implemented and government employees cannot be transferred to another post during the election period.
Areas of concern
Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Castillano said Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) officials will determine what areas will be considered “areas of concern.”
PJSCC is composed of officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and the Comelec.
Castillano said the areas of concern are usually determined during the campaign period.
He said the Comelec cannot conclude that the areas of concern in 2013 will be the same during this year’s SK election because that year, the SK election was synchronized with the barangay election.
“Lain sad kaayo tan-awn moabot sa punto nga naay areas of concern nga mga batan-on baya ni (It is not good if there is an area of concern considering that those involve in the election are the youth),” said Castillano.
Vote-buying
Vote-buying may occur during the SK election but as for the presence of goons, Castillano said he did not hear of SK candidates having “private armed groups” in previous SK elections.
Provincial Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde said that in terms of administering elections, it will be easier for a Comelec field office to handle fewer voters.
“I mean it does not matter how many registered SK voters there are in an area, what is more important is that they are responsible and honest,” said Gujilde.
Bañas directed police officers whose children will run in the election to stay neutral.
“It is a political exercise. It should be healthy, clean and fun,” he said.
He said the SK election can be critical because it is the “parents who are very much interested in the political career of their children.” He said that in previous SK elections, he observed parents gathering followers for their children.
Bañas said that a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages will be implemented a day before the elections.