COC filing for BSKE to push through next week

MANILA, Philippines — The filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the Nov. 2 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) will push through next week, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

“We will have the filing of COCs on Sept. 28. Our activities will be continuous. That is why our request is that before Sept. 28, it will be made clear to us if the BSKE will happen or not,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.

Based on the BSKE 2026 calendar of activities, the filing of COCs is from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5.

“As of today, Nov. 2 is election day. We can’t be blamed if we continue to prepare because based on the law, the election is on Nov. 2. But once a law (on postponing the elections) is enacted, all activities will stop starting tomorrow,” Garcia said.

“In case a law has been approved and signed, there will be no filing (of COCs),” he added.

For now, Garcia stressed that the BSKE will happen because that is the law. “It is not fake news. It is true. But if you say it will not take place, there is no such thing. We don’t have a law yet (postponing it). What we need is a law,” the official said.