DAVAO CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec)-11 is ready to hold the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in May unless there is a declaration of postponement in connection to the second extension of martial law in Mindanao.
As of Wednesday, there is no resolution yet from the Comelec en banc to postpone the elections in Mindanao, said Comelec 11 Director Marlon Casquejo.
But, Casquejo said Comelec regional office is ready to hold the elections in May. It has already conducted hearings with election officers and the completed the clustering of precincts. Next week it will hold a meeting for the board of election inspectors.
Davao Region will have three million voters, including the voters for SK. Of the total number, 1.2 million are in Davao City including the 9,000 voters who registered in November 2017. Of the 1.2 voters, 919,000 are regular voters, Casquejo bared.
Last year, the Comelec en banc passed a resolution postponing the barangay and SK elections in Mindanao in October following the first extension of martial law by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Casquejo said the Comelec en banc resolution was already superseded by Republic Act 10952, the act postponing the October 2017 barangay and SK elections.
Under the rules and regulations implementing RA 10952 of Comelec Resolution No. 10213 promulgated on October 24, 2017, the elections will be conducted on the second Monday of May.
Casquejo said it is not yet certain whether the Comelec en banc would see the need to postpone again the barangay and SK polls in Mindanao because of martial law which could have an implication to the security of candidates, Comelec, among others.
Comelec has yet to hold consultations with local officials on whether to hold or not the elections in May.
Casquejo recalled that the postponement last year was approved by COMELEC in an en banc resolution on August 15 following a consultation with local officials.
The postponement was considered because of martial law. He said all parties had been notified and there was no opposition to delay the elections, which was scheduled on October.
However, Casquejo said Davao region could still hold the elections in May, trusting on the capability of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to secure the people, candidates, and the Comelec.
Casquejo still sees the New People’s Army (NPA) as a threat to candidates and its extortion activities.
The Comelec will also reset its schedule such as acceptance of the Certificates of Candidacy, date of the campaign period. Casquejo said the campaign normally starts 15 days before the election day.
The barangay and SK officials are on hold over status, unless removed or suspended for cause, until their successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.
Also under the rules, the barangay officials who are ex-officio members of the sangguniang bayan, sangguniang panlungsod, or sangguniang panlalawigan, as the case may be, shall continue to serve as such members in the sangunian concerned until the next barangay election.
The Liga ng mga Barangay at the municipal, city, and provincial levels shall, not later than July 31, 2018, conduct elections for ex officio positions in the sanggunians under the supervision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
