THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved a resolution suspending the proclamation of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) 2023 winners with pending poll-related cases.
The commission approved Memorandum 231111 on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, for the suspension of winning candidates with pending petitions to deny due course or to cancel their certificate of candidacy, to declare as nuisance candidate and for disqualification until further orders from the body.
The Comelec noted the policy under Section 600 of Comelec Resolution 10924, which authorizes presiding commissioners of each division and the agency’s chairman, as the presiding officer of the commission en banc to issue the order of suspension of proclamation of respondent candidates in the above cases.
The deputy executive director of operations, Office of the Clerk of the commission and the Office of Election Officer are in charge of the implementation of suspension of declaration.
The deputy executive director of operations is tasked to inform and furnish the concerned election officers and Barangay Board of Canvassers (BBOC) with a copy of the order, while the Office of the Clerk is directed to inform the respondent-candidates and furnish them with a copy of the order through the fastest means available.
The Office of the Election Officer will monitor the implementation of the order of suspension.
The official assumption of winning BSKE candidates was set on December 1, a month after the election day.
"We have practically the entire month to resolve the suspension orders, as well as iyong mismong resolution,” Comelec chairman George Garcia said in an ambush interview with reporters.
Garcia said in case a winning barangay or SK chairperson is the one subject to disqualification case, the winning barangay kagawad or SK member who gained the highest number of votes will perform the function as an acting official.
As of October 24, the poll body has filed disqualification cases against 181 candidates due to premature campaigning.
Upon initial assessment, the Comelec is looking into filing disqualification cases against 39 candidates for illegal campaigning.
Meanwhile, Garcia said they have already delivered all the accountable forms to all consignees nationwide as of 5 p.m. of October 24, which includes official ballots and election returns for the BSKE on October 30. (SunStar Philippines)