3-term village execs disqualified from polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said barangay officials who have served for three consecutive terms are automatically disqualified from running in the Oct. 28 barangay polls.

“If you are a three-termer, don’t bother to file your certificate of candidacy. Even if you decide to file your COC, we will still disqualify you,” Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said.

Brillantes said the list provided by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) gave the poll body information on who are no longer qualified to participate in the barangay elections.

The Comelec posted the list in its website http://www.comelec.gov.ph.

The poll body can disqualify motu propio or even without petition three-termer officials who will be filing their COCs based on the list, according to Brillantes.

“We urge the public to take action by browsing through the list of possible candidates who are barred from running under the three-term rule,” he said.

The law prohibits barangay officials from serving for the same position more than three consecutive terms.

The Comelec has set the filing of COCs from Oct. 11 to 17.

Registered voters can use the Precinct Finder system available at the Comelec’s website to locate their voting place for the upcoming balloting.

The Precinct Finder requires voters to provide their full name and date of birth in order to find their precinct.

The system is not available for the municipalities of San Jose and Basey in Samar; Parang, Sulu; Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte; and Bacolor in Pampanga.

The Comelec has given all barangays nationwide until Oct. 18 to comply with the directive to shell out P10,000 to help finance the upcoming polls.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, barangay officials who refuse to give donations may be held liable for election offense.

The poll body needs P3.45 billion for the Oct. 28 balloting, but the General Appropriations Act of 2013 only allocated P1.175 billion, prompting the Comelec to source out additional funding of P2.3 billion.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrested a total of 146 people for violating the gun ban since Sept. 28.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor said the gun ban violators include three policemen, four security guards and a government employee.

The gun ban will be in effect until Nov. 12. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe