THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified two candidates in the October 30 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls for violation of the political dynasty ban under the SK Reform Act of 2015.
Under the law, youth candidates “must not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official, in the locality where he or she seeks to be elected.”
It is the first Philippine law with an anti-political dynasty provision.
In separate statements, the Comelec announced it has cancelled the Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) of Merson C. Calubag, who is running for SK chairperson in Barangay Magtangale, San Francisco in Surigao del Norte, and Ivy Jane Parohinog Miranda, who is running for SK chairperson of Barangay Malag-it, Calinog in Iloilo.
The Comelec Second Division disqualified Calubag due to material misrepresentation, which is a ground for denial or cancellation of COC.
It noted Calubag’s declaration in his COC that he is not related within the second civil degree of consanguinity to an incumbent elected official in the locality where he is running.
However, the poll body found out that Calubag is the son of Marilyn Castor Calubag, who is a Sangguniang Barangay member of Barangay Magtangale, San Francisco where he is running.
“These material declarations are false since his mother is an incumbent Barangay Kagawad in the same locality,” said the October 11 decision.
The second division also cancelled the COC of Miranda due to material misrepresentation after learning that the resignation of her father, June Miranda, as Sangguniang Bayan member was invalid because it was not filed with the proper authority.
“The resignation letter of her father was not valid for the reason that it was not filed before the proper authority or before the (office of the) Municipal Mayor of Calinog, Iloilo, who has the power to act on the said resignation. Consequently, her father, June Miranda, is still deemed an incumbent elective local official of the same barangay when she filed her COC,” said the Comelec.
Aside from the two SK aspirants, the Comelec also disqualified Aniano Pancho Capinig, who is running for barangay chairman in Barangay Cabas-an, Aroroy in Masbate, after it learned that he has been sentenced to imprisonment of more than 18 months.
“Capinig’s final judgment of conviction, for which he was sentenced to an offense with a penalty of more than 18 months, disqualifies him from being a candidate in the 2023 BSKE,” said the poll body.
It noted that Capinig was previously convicted for illegal possession of firearms, which carries the penalty of prision correccional, and an accessory penalty of perpetual special disqualification from the right of suffrage.
“(This) has become final and executory,” stressed the Comelec.
Under the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), any person who is “sentenced to a penalty of more than 18 months or for a crime involving moral turpitude shall be disqualified to be a candidate and to hold any office.”
