AMID debates on whether the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) should be postponed or not, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has released the calendar of activities for the December 5 polls.
In its Resolution No. 10831, the Comelec en Banc set the period to file Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) from October 6 to 13, while the last day to post the BSKE Computerized Voters Lists (CVLs) is on September 6.
The poll body also set the election period for the BSKE will be from October 6 to December 12, 2022.
During the election period, the following acts are prohibited: carrying of firearms or other deadly weapons, use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates; coercing, threatening, intimidating, or terrorizing any election official or employee in the performance of his/her election functions or duties, transfer or detail of officers and employees in the civil service, and suspension of any elective provincial, city, municipal, or barangay officer.
The campaign period, on the other hand, has been set from November 25 to December 3, 2022.
During the campaign period, the following are not allowed: making any donation or gift in cash or in kind; defacing, tampering, or preventing distribution of lawful election propaganda; use of armored land, water, or air crafts; have policemen and provincial guards acting as bodyguards or security guards of public officials or candidates, and undertake construction or maintenance of barangay funded roads and bridges.
Come December 4, or the eve of Election Day, campaigning as well as selling, buying, and taking of liquor shall be banned.
On Election Day, the Comelec said the casting of votes shall be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The counting and canvassing of votes and proclamation of winning candidates shall immediately take place after the closing of polls.
The Comelec also said the last day for all BSKE bets to file their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures shall be on January 4, 2023.
To note, several bills have been filed in Congress for the postponement of the December 5 barangay and youth polls.