Commission on Elections wants May 14 polls to be a special holiday

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has passed a resolution asking President Duterte to declare May 14 as a special non-working holiday nationwide in connection with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.

Under Resolution No. 10301 dated April 12, the Comelec said “the people must be given opportunity to exercise freely their right of suffrage.”

The Comelec noted that after several postponements, the barangay and SK elections will finally push through on May 14 based on Section 1 of Republic Act 10952. 

Meanwhile, the Comelec said candidates in the coming May polls are not mandated to submit their biodata and campaign platform to the agency.

“It actually has no bearing in the filing of COCs. The election officer will accept the COC forms, with or without biodata and program of government,” the Comelec tweeted.

According to the Comelec, they have received several queries if the poll body imposed additional requirements in the filing of COCs.

But the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier asked the Comelec to require barangay and SK candidates to submit their biodata or resume.

The Comelec said including a biodata and campaign platform in their COCs could help candidates “in informing and educating voters in voting wisely come campaign period,” but this is not mandatory.

The period of filing of COCs for the May 14 elections started last Saturday and will end on April 20.

COCs must be filed with the Office of the Election Officer that has jurisdiction over the barangay, where they are seeking office, between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon also stressed that members of political parties are barred from running in the SK elections.

“Be aware: candidates for barangay positions will sign certificate of candidacy that states they are not members of any political party, group, or coalition of parties,” Guanzon posted on Twitter.