THE 90-day election period starts off today for this year’s October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), highlighted by the filing of certificates of candidacies for individuals eyeing participation in the electoral exercise.
Under the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) Calendar of Activities, the election period shall run from August 28 to November 29.
During the election period, the ban on bearing, carrying, or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons in public places shall be in effect, except for those which have been authorized by the Comelec.
It is also prohibited for candidates to use security personnel or bodyguards, as well as the organization or maintenance of reaction or strike forces.
The transfer or detail of officers and employees in the civil service, and the suspension of local elective officials shall also be banned.
The Comelec said it also prohibits the raising of funds thru dances, lotteries, cockfights, as well as the wagering upon result of election.
But aside from entering the election period, today is also the start of the COC filing period, which will run until September 2, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
COCs must be filed in the Offices of Election Officers (OEOs) that has jurisdiction over the candidates’ respective barangays.
The Comelec said any COC filed with the incorrect office shall be deemed as not filed, while certificates filed by mail, electronic mail, or facsimile shall not be accepted.
Qualified to run as barangay chairman or barangay council member is a citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter in the barangay where the aspirant intends to be elected, a resident in the said barangay for at least one year immediately preceding the day of the election, able to read and write Filipino or any other local language or dialect and is at least 18 years of age on Election Day.
For SK aspirants, qualifications include being a citizen of the Philippines, a qualified voter of the Katipunan ng Kabataan (KK), a resident of the barangay for not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the elections, at least 18 years old but not more than 24 years of age on the day of the elections, able to read and write Filipino, English, or the local dialect; and must not be related within the 2nd 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 aspirant seeks to be elected.
In a phone interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia reminded aspiring candidates against engaging in premature campaigning.
According to the poll chief, all individuals who have already filed their COCs will immediately be considered as candidates, and thus, will already be prohibited from doing premature campaigning.
“It shall be prohibited to engage in campaigning activities outside the Campaign Period of October 19 to 28,” said Garcia.
“We will apply the full force of the law: Section 18 of the Omnibus Election Code. You cannot go around, campaign, distribute things since you are already a candidate,” he added.
Under the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), it is unlawful to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity except during the campaign period.
Engaging in premature campaigning activities is considered as an election offense, which carries the penalty of one to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and disqualification to hold public posts.
