Comelec: We're ready for barangay, SK polls

CEBU, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is “100-percent ready” to carry out the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on October 30, an official declared.

However, Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco noted that they would still await a ruling on petitions before the Supreme Court to nullify the law that moved the date of the community elections.

“Hangga’t walang lumalabas na desisyon na nagde-declare na unconstitutional ang RA (Republic Act) 11935, tuloy-tuloy ang Comelec,” he told The Chiefs on Cignal’s One News last Thursday night.

“100-percent ready ang Comelec as of this time to conduct elections,” he added.

RA 11935 declared the postponement of the barangay and SK elections originally scheduled in December 2022, and at the same time mandated the community polls be held on the last Monday of October 2023, or October 30. It also mandated newly elected barangay and SK officials to hold office starting November 30 or a month after their election.

Shortly after the law was passed in September last year, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal asked the Supreme Court to invalidate the law. He then filed another petition compelling the High Court to instruct the poll body to hold the barangay and SK elections this May.

Laudiangco announced the Comelec has finished printing all ballots, an estimated 92-million of them. “The 92-million ballots are ready, packed including their respective election returns, statements of votes and certificates of proclamation.”

The poll body is set to print this month an additional 1.6-million ballots, to be given to new voters and those who reactivated their voter records.

It is also set to train teachers on the conduct of the barangay and SK elections a month or two ahead of its October 30 schedule, which would be done without any technology involved.

“Kailangan mas malapit kasi manual elections ito, may appreciation ng ballot and nakasaad sa Omnibus Election Code ang iba’t ibang rules ng pag-appreciate kaya doon namin gagawin,” Laudiangco said.

According to the Comelec’s schedule, candidates for barangay chairpersons and kagawad or council members as well as SK chairpersons and kagawad should file their certificates of candidacy from August 28 to September 2.

The campaign period will officially start on October 19, and end on October 28.

Voting period on election day, October 30, will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. — (FREEMAN)