Filing of COC for barangay, SK polls postponed

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has postponed the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for this year’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections amid talks to move the electoral process to 2023.

Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco told reporters in a Viber message yesterday afternoon that the en banc approved the rescheduling of the filing of the COC from the previous schedule of Oct. 6-13 to Oct. 22-29, except on Oct. 23, which is a Sunday.

Laudiangco said the Comelec has decided to reschedule the filing of the COC as the House version of the bill postponing the barangay and SK polls does not include a provision on what will happen to the COCs filed in case the bill becomes a law. Aside from this, there is also no certainty if the version of the Senate will have a provision on the fate of the COCs.

Following this, Laudiangco noted that the election period and the gun ban, which were initially set to start on Oct. 6, will now start from Nov. 6 to Dec. 20. During this time, the carrying of firearms or deadly weapons and the use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates, among others, are prohibited.

Vote-buying and vote-selling and raising of funds through dances, lotteries and cockfights are also prohibited during the election period.

The campaign period will run from Nov. 25 to Dec. 3 where removing, destroying, obliterating, defacing, tampering or preventing distribution of lawful election propaganda are prohibited including making any donation or gift in cash or in kind.

He said that the construction or maintenance of barangay funded roads and bridges, the appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new positions, promotion, giving of salary increases, remuneration or privileges are also prohibited acts during the campaign period until Dec. 4.

The liquor ban is on Dec. 4, or a day before the Dec. 5 barangay and SK polls.

The last day of the filing of the Statement of Contribution and Expenditures is on Jan. 4, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Comelec, following its timetable, will next month start the procurement process for the barangay and SK elections in December 2022.

Laudiangco yesterday said the Comelec would have to follow its schedule even as both houses of Congress have yet to make a final decision on postponing the local polls to May 2023.

He pointed out that the competitive public bidding part of the procurement process is already completed and that the Comelec is just delaying the awarding of contract in view of the possible outcome of the proposed bills that seek to move the election to next year.