SPURRED by repeated calls from lawmakers, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is reviewing the date of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
In a brief statement, Elections chairman George Garcia said the Comelec en banc is already deliberating over the calls of lawmakers to push back the COC filing period.
The July 3 to 7 COC filing is set under Comelec Resolution No. 10899.
“The later filing date of COCs for BSKE is sensible and will be seriously considered by the poll body,” said Garcia, adding that “there were already initial discussions on this matter by the en banc several days ago.”
The poll chief said they are looking to come out with a ruling on the matter “this coming Wednesday.”
Yesterday, Sen. Francis Tolentino said he has asked the poll body to postpone the filing of the COCs for the for the BSKE at a later date so as not to burden local government units.
He said the filing of COCs can be scheduled on August, instead of July, since the latter is still too early for the October polls.
“It will burden local government units. Magkakaroon ng maraming ban — ban sa employment, ban sa construction. It will entail administrative expenses on the part of the Philippine National Police. Katakot takot na checkpoint ‘yan. Gun ban na. ang daming ide-deploy na tao, resources.
(A lot of things will be banned — employment ban, construction ban etc. It will entail administrative expenses on the part of the PNP as there will be lots of checkpoints, gun ban will be imposed, cops and resources will be deployed),” he said.
He said the early COC filing may see a rise in election-related violent incidents because of the long waiting period for the actual election day.
“So, i-delay natin. Tutal sampung araw lang naman ang kampanyahan and I am asking the Comelec to study this matter (So, let us delay it. Anyway, the campaign period will only for 10 days and I am asking the Comelec to study this matter),” he said.
Parañaque City Rep Gus Tambunting has also previously expressed opposition to the setting of the COC filing period for the forthcoming village and youth polls in early July. — With Raymond Africa
