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Addressing vote-buying
It seems that the present Commission on Elections is not running out of ideas on how to effect reforms. It is not “sleeping on their post” as sentinels used to say. It continues to pursue changes in the electoral landscape unmindful of negative social and political headwinds. I just wrote about its speedy action of placing Malabang, Lanao del Sur under Comelec control because of the indiscriminate firing of guns on the first day of filing of certificates of candidacy. Now, it’s tackling the mother of election irregularities — vote buying and vote selling. This illegal practice is anti-democratic. It continues to be the bane of elections. It restricts one’s freedom to choose one’s leaders. That it thrives as endemic in a political milieu like the Philippines is a testament to how difficult life is for the common people. Financial need, especially for those on the margins of society, is so chronic that people are willing to sacrifice their basic freedoms to make ends meet. This is a problem almost beyond solution because of the difficulty of punishing the wrongdoers, both the buyer and seller. We have laws punishing it but prosecutors can only build a case against a suspect with the participation of at least one of the accomplices to the crime. And who would want to testify against oneself unless immunity is assured? And so, we see a mockery of the law. No one gets jailed for violating it. The proactive Comelec comes now with a bagful of measures to combat the anomaly. It has created a special group, the Committee on Kontra Bigay, to address the problem and it is helmed by a no-nonsense reformist, Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr., the namesake of a great and astute statesman who served the country in various capacities for decades. I say he is the right choice, not only because of the reputation he has built, but more so because of the weight of the name he carries which he would not want to taint with a whiff of wrongdoing. The Commission has listed a litany of prohibitive acts associated with vote-buying. It’s too long to list in this limited space. But on top of these are acts and activities “presumed” to be illegal because they lead to the commission of the crime. These include “possessing or delivery of... monies or anything of value together with sample ballots or other campaign materials... queues of registered voters for the distribution of money... and such other goods... employing the hakot system or the gathering of two or more registered voters in a specific place before election day and on election day ...prohibiting the possession... carrying of cash exceeding P500,000 along with campaign paraphernalia two days before an election and on election day... an ‘ayuda’ ban except that which is normally given to qualified individuals...” It also created the Kontra Bigay Complaint Center which will receive complaints of vote-buying. For human rights guardians, consider this: the Comelec allows “warrantless arrest wherein any law enforcement officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person when in his or her presence, the person to be arrested has committed, is committing, or is attempting to commit the election offense of vote-buying.” Wow! A case arising out of these acts is fertile ground for legal hermeneutics. Any two-bit lawyer can find a “palusot” in this scenario. It may be extremely difficult to prove all these by evidence but it’s surely a theoretical force to deter the commission of the crime. And let it not be said that the present Commission did not lift a finger to combat this perennial problem which everyone talks about but was never addressed by past commissions. For this reason, the present Commission deserves our appreciation for a bold ambitious move. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Addressing vote-buying appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
91 BSKE candidates facing disqualification
The Commission on Elections on Sunday reported that 91 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections candidates on 30 October are facing disqualifications. COMELEC Chairman George Garcia, in a radio interview at dzBB, said the COMELEC has already issued the candidates show cause orders over their alleged election offenses such as premature campaigning. "There were no formal complaints. These were only the results of what we have seen or reported to us. What the COMELEC did is motu proprio investigation. This is the COMELEC’s own initiative," Garcia said. He added that the COMELEC has the power to investigate and file its own complaints against candidates who commit election offenses. COMELEC spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco also last Friday said they have over a hundred petitions for disqualification due to various election offenses, as of Thursday. At least 43 of the petitions are to declare certain candidates as nuisance bets, cancel certain certificates of candidacy (COCs), and disqualify over some issues. The rest have yet to be formally filed. The 91 candidates, on the other hand, were given three days from the receipt of the show cause orders to explain their sides regarding the accusations. For formal complaints, Garcia said, the COMELEC would issue subpoenas. The poll body has repeatedly warned against premature campaigning as the campaign period will run only from 19 to 28 October. Garcia said putting up posters and promoting themselves on social media before the campaign period starts may be considered premature campaigning. "The filing of show cause orders against 91 BSKE bets was just the beginning. There will be many more. We will do that daily," Garcia said. The COMELEC chair earlier encouraged voters to file complaints against BSKE candidates who will campaign even before the official campaign period starts. Around 1,414,487 COCs were filed across the country for the coming BSKE. The post 91 BSKE candidates facing disqualification appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zambo shooting suspects yield
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Two suspects in the indiscriminate firing incident in Malabang, Lanao del Sur during the filing of Certificates of Candidacy surrendered to the police on Friday. The suspects, identified as Mamayog Sidik Gampong and Haniboy Sarip, voluntarily surrendered their firearms to the Police Regional Office for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The two fired their guns indiscriminately in Barangay Chinatown, Malabang on 31 August, which disrupted the filing of CoCs by candidates vying for various posts in the coming Barangay polls. PRO-BAR Director P/Brig. Gen. Allan C. Nobleza said the incident clearly violated the Commission on Elections’ gun ban. The Comelec prohibits carrying and transporting firearms, explosives and other deadly weapons during the election period from 28 August to 29 November. If found guilty, violators can be sentenced up to 12 years in prison. PRO-BAR will press charges against Gampong and Sarip on top of the charges that have already been filed at the local fiscal office against them. The post Zambo shooting suspects yield appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec logs over 120K candidates for BSKE in Bicol
By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY – The Commission on Elections-5 (Bicol) reported on Monday that more than 120,000 individuals have filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2. In an interview, Comelec-Albay Election Supervisor Ma. Aurea Bo-Bunao said the COCs filed will be subjected […].....»»
Being Discerning in Choosing Candidates
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be busy starting this week with the task of providing details to voters about the candidates who filed their candidacy. Until October, Comelec officers and employees will be occupied to ensure that the elections remain peaceful and orderly until the winners are proclaimed. Despite this, there are concerns about […].....»»
More than 17K candidates seek barangay, SK positions in Palawan
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — A total of 17,815 individuals submitted their certificates of candidacy in Palawan within a week-long timeframe set by the Commission on Elections for an activity categorized as being "generally peaceful." From the total number, 2,593 individuals filed their candidacy in Puerto Princesa City, and 14,862 in various municipalities in Palawan, all competing for roles in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections scheduled for 30 October, as shared by Jomel Ordas, the spokesperson of the provincial COMELEC. Based on the information he provided, there are 172 individuals aiming to vie for the role of barangay captain and 160 individuals planning to run for SK chairman in Puerto Princesa City. In Palawan, approximately 1,034 people have expressed interest in competing for the leading position in the barangay, and 970 individuals aspire to become SK chairman. Ordas pointed out that the list must undergo submission to the Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD) at their central office for verification before it can be determined whether all of them are eligible candidates. "The process will involve submitting the initial list of filers to the ERSD at the COMELEC main office, and it will undergo several verification steps to ensure that everyone is qualified and not disqualified by law," he explained. He noted that following the completion of the verification process, the COMELEC will furnish an official list of certified candidates. This compilation will be prominently displayed in the barangay halls before the BSKE polls on 30 October. Ordas said that the qualifications subject to assessment encompass being a Filipino citizen, a registered voter in the respective barangay, residing in the same barangay for a minimum of one year prior to the election, possessing the ability to read and write in either Filipino or a local dialect, and reaching the age of 18 or older on the day of the election. He also said that the ERSD will examine whether individuals who submitted their COCs share a second-degree civil relationship with the SK, have a criminal conviction involving moral turpitude, or an offense carrying a penalty of one year or more imprisonment within two years of the sentence, and are not barred by legal disqualifications. For the SK, in addition to some of the previously mentioned qualifications, candidates must fall within the age range of 18 to 24 during the election, possess the capability to read and write both in Filipino and English, and not have a blood or marriage connection up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity with any elected official anywhere in the country. Based further on information furnished by the provincial COMELEC, in the entirety of Palawan, which also includes Puerto Princesa City, the number of individuals aspiring to contest for barangay councilor positions is 10,371, and there are 5,108 candidates vying for SK councilor roles. The post More than 17K candidates seek barangay, SK positions in Palawan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Over 270,000 aspirants file COC for BSKE – Comelec
The Commission on Elections reported that there are more than 273,000 aspirants who filed their certificate of candidacy for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on the first day of filing on Monday......»»
600 checkpoints net over 15 Comelec gun ban violators: PNP
Around 15 persons have been apprehended since the start of the Commission on Elections' gun ban on Monday during the first day of filing of the certificate of candidacy for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said on Tuesday. Acorda said since implementing the gun ban, 15 firearms have been confiscated from more than 600 checkpoints nationwide. The establishment of checkpoints was carried out under Comelec Resolution No. 10924 to effectively implement the ban on firearms and other deadly weapons during the 90-day election period from 28 August to 29 November. The resolution prohibits the bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park, private vehicle or public conveyance, or even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized by the Comelec. Acorda also said he has ordered a probe and has a person of interest in the incident that happened in Libon town in Albay where the victim Alex Repato, reelectionist captain of Barangay San Jose, was shot dead by still unidentified assailants in his residence at around 5 p.m. Monday, just hours after he filed his candidacy. “It is unfortunate in Albay we have one case of shooting but we already have a person of interest there and tinututukan ng ating kapulisan. What happened in Albay is election-related but I want to get first 'yung talagang official result of the investigation,” Acorda said on the sidelines of the National Capital Region Police Office's commemoration of its 122nd Police Service anniversary at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan Taguig City. Addressing the event, Acorda lauded the NCRPO's dedication to the PNP's agenda, which includes the relentless pursuit of justice, commitment to excellence and fostering deep connections with the communities under their care. He extended his congratulations and recognition to the men and women of the NCRPO for their invaluable contributions to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety and security of the nation's capital. The ceremony was also marked by the presentation of awards to outstanding officers and units within the NCRPO. The awards recognized excellence across various categories, including community engagement, crime prevention and exceptional acts of valor. The NCRPO's Northern Police District, Eastern Police District, Manila Police District, Southern Police District and Quezon City Police District were feted for their outstanding contributions. The post 600 checkpoints net over 15 Comelec gun ban violators: PNP appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BSKE: Comelec sees 2 million bets filing COCs
Over two million aspirants for the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are expected to file their certificates of candidacy nationwide, Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia said during the first day of COC filing yesterday......»»
EDITORIAL - Grassroots governance
There were large crowds yesterday as the Commission on Elections opened the filing of certificates of candidacy for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. Comelec officials said they expected up to two million people to file COCs for the first BSKE since 2018......»»
Palawan CoC filing ‘peaceful’
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Commission on Elections here on Monday said that the first day of filing of certificates of candidacies for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections was generally peaceful. City and provincial election supervisors — Atty. Julius Cuevas and Atty. Percival Mendoza — confirmed that checkpoints were deployed across Puerto Princesa and the 23 municipalities of Palawan, starting as early as 11 p.m. on Sunday night. Cuevas said that the start of reactivating checkpoints for the BSKE 2023 in Puerto Princesa went well, with no unfavorable incidents. “The launching of the checkpoints was very successful for the simultaneous holding of the BSKE filing of certificates of candidacy,” Cuevas said, expressing gratitude to the Puerto Princesa City Police Office and its various units. He also mentioned an estimated 2,100 individuals from the 66 barangays of Puerto Princesa are expected to submit their certificates of candidacy until the filing period ends on 2 September. The filing is happening at SM City Puerto Princesa, the sole designated location, Cuevas said. The designated time for the activity is between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., but the last admission will be at 4:45 p.m. Over at Central Visayas, the Comelec-7 disclosed that 48,048 positions are to be contested for the 2023 BSKE. In an interview with DAILY TRIBUNE, Comelec-7 regional director Atty. Marco Lionel Castillano said there are eight Barangay and SK posts up for grabs, with each barangay to have one chairman and seven councilors each for the Barangay and SK positions. “In the region, we have 3003 barangays as every barangay have 16 posts, thus this will be 48,048,” Castillano said. Cebu Province has the highest number of barangays with 1,203, followed by Bohol with 1,109, next is Negros Oriental with 557 and Siquijor with 134. The BSKE in the region will be managed by 133 city and municipal election offices. The post Palawan CoC filing ‘peaceful’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec warns vs premature campaigning in barangay, SK polls
The Commission on Elections yesterday repeated its warning to all candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections to refrain from premature campaigning. The warning was aired by Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco during the Laging Handa press forum yesterday. Ladiangco said once the certificate of candidacy is filed, the person is already a candidate and all the prohibitions will apply, particularly those on premature campaigning. All tarpaulins or posters of a candidate, even without the “vote” exhortation, are not allowed and will be taken down, while the candidate may face sanctions. Ladiangco said that based on the 2004 Supreme Court decision Chavez versus Comelec, posters with a picture or face of the candidate, caricature, resemblance and name but with no "vote" printed is still an indirect solicitation of votes and is considered prohibited. Laudiangco also mentioned another SC ruling in the case of a subject who conducted a motorcade when he went to the poll body’s office to file his candidacy. At that time, he was not yet a candidate. But when he filed the document, he already became a candidate and thus the motorcade was prohibited because it falls under indirect campaigning under Section 18 of the Omnibus Election Code. The post Comelec warns vs premature campaigning in barangay, SK polls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
COMELEC chair issues warning against premature campaigning
Commission on Elections chairperson George Garcia on Sunday warned would-be candidates for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on 30 October 30 about engaging in premature campaigning. During a radio interview on DZBB, Garcia said that since it is not yet the official campaign period, any actions taken by potential candidates could result in legal action. He also urged voters to report any BSKE candidates who begin campaigning prior to the start of the official campaign period on 19 October. According to Garcia, the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the 2023 BSKE will be from 28 August to 2 September, while the campaign period will run from 19 to 28 October. "Currently, the COMELEC has no power. They should wait for August 28 and when someone files a case before us. Do you want to have disqualification cases or face a criminal case with up to six years in prison?" Garcia said. "Let’s monitor the situation on our own. File a complaint to us at the COMELEC," Garcia added, urging citizens to help the commission rid of irregularities during election periods. Garcia earlier said that COMELEC's efforts to combat premature campaigning also involve the possibility of a "warrantless arrest" for individuals caught participating in vote-buying or vote-selling. According to the COMELEC chair, those who will file their COCs will be considered candidates for the BSKE set on 30 October. Thus, Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code, which pertains to premature campaigning, will already be applicable to them. Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code states that “it shall be unlawful for any person, whether or not a voter or candidate, or for any party, or association of persons, to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity except during the campaign period.” Garcia urged Filipinos not to vote for candidates who violate the law. "Why would you vote for people who do not obey the law? If they are no longer following the law even if they’re just candidates, what more when they’re elected? They will only violate our laws and what will happen to our nation then?" Garcia asked. Garcia said people could document evidence against those who will do premature campaigning in their respective areas, and forward them to local COMELEC offices. He also stressed that complainants should testify to prove their claims. The post COMELEC chair issues warning against premature campaigning appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cops gear up for Barangay, SK polls
The Philippine National Police is making early preparations to assume election duties as a deputized agency of the Commission on Elections for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections scheduled on 30 October 2023. PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the Comelec Committee on the Ban on Firearm and Security Concerns convened it first meeting last 9 May 2023 presided by Commissioner Aimee P. Ferolino, CBFSC chairperson, with representatives from the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He said that all operational planning and preparatory activities of the PNP are guided by Comelec Resolution 10902 that approved the calendar of activities for the 2023 Barangay and SK polls. Pursuant to Comelec Resolution 10902, the 90-day election period for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election will commence on 28 August 2023 with the start of the period for filing of Certificates of Candidacy. Acorda said the PNP will strictly enforce all prohibited acts during the entire 90-day election period as enumerated under the Omnibus Election Code and Resolutions passed by the Comelec. “These prohibited acts include the bearing, carrying, or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons in public places including any building, street, park, private vehicle, or public conveyance, unless authorized in writing by the Comelec and also prohibited during this period is the use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates,” said Acorda. Upon the request of Commissioner Ferolino, Acorda said the PNP is making some adjustments on administrative procedures and technical requirements in the processing of Comelec authority for exemption. The joint Comelec-PNP-AFP committee is set to hold a media event on 22 May 2023 to formally launch the information campaign for the 2023 Barangay and SK elections. Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said they will beef up their efforts in ensuring the peaceful and orderly conduct of the barangay and SK polls. “As we speak, our Directorate for Operation is closely coordinating with Comelec, but as of now we don’t have yet the figures as to the number of election areas of concerns that will be included in the color category, the yellow, green, orange and red,” Fajardo said. “We also expect this coming barangay elections although we know it will be quite hot when it comes to the local election that’s why this early the PNP prepared including the other security forces to make sure all risk factors will be determined as early as now so that those who are best practices and other police strategies to ensure that we have safe and secure elections will be implemented even prior to the declaration of the election period,” she added. The post Cops gear up for Barangay, SK polls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec: Unqualified local aspirants will be rejected
The Commission on Elections on Monday announced that it will order its regional offices to outright reject the certificate of candidacies of unqualified aspirants for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, including overaged Sangguniang Kabataan bets and candidates for barangay posts who are not registered voters. Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said that the move is to prevent a backlog of disqualification cases related to the upcoming polls as there are more than 4,000 petitions have been filed before the poll body. “We have decided that the local Comelec has the powers to reject and remove the CoCs of those unqualified. Why do we need to make things difficult? We’ll just not accept the candidacies of these people,” Garcia said. He added that Section 39 of Title Two, Chapter 1 of the Local Government Code of 1991 states that barangay aspirants must be at least 18 years old during election day on 30 October, must be a registered voter, as well as a resident of the barangay concerned for at least a year, and should be able to read or write. Meanwhile, Section 2 of Chapter 10 of Republic Act 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 states that candidates must be between 18 to 24 years of age on election day, able to read and write in English, Filipino or the dialect used in the barangay, must not be related to incumbent national and local officials at the “second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity,” and must not be convicted with finality on cases involving moral turpitude. However, Garcia clarified that disqualified aspirants could petition for their candidacy before the Comelec who will, in turn, decide whether their local poll boards were correct or not with their rejections. He also vowed to rule on all petitions, including disqualification petitions, before the 30 October polls. “We are committing ourselves to resolve these petitions before 30 October, for us to prove whether someone’s candidacy should be removed or not. If we affirmed the decision of the local Comelec, they could go to the Supreme Court,” Garcia said. The filing of CoCs is scheduled from 28 August to 2 September, with the first day marking the start of the election period for the Barangay and SK Elections. The post Comelec: Unqualified local aspirants will be rejected appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Barangay, SK poll candidates may file CoCs July 3-7 – Comelec
Candidates for the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections can file their certificates of candidacy from July 3 to 7, according to the Commission on Elections......»»
COC filing sa BSKE target ng Comelec sa Hulyo
MANILA, Philippines – Plano ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) na itakda ang panahon ng paghahain ng certificate of candidacy (COC) para sa barangay at Sangguniang Kabataang elections (BSKE) sa Hulyo. Sinabi ni Comelec chairman George Garcia na ang maagang paghahain ng COC ay para malutas ang mga kaso ng disqualification. Itinakda ang BSKE sa Oktubre […] The post COC filing sa BSKE target ng Comelec sa Hulyo appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
Comelec denies revoking Puerto Princesa mayor s candidacy
MANILA - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday dismissed reports that it canceled the certificate of candidacy of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Mayor Lucilo Bayron in the recently-concluded May 9 polls.Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco, in a statement, said it was t.....»»
Comelec says ‘no’ to online COC filing
The Commission on Elections has junked calls to allow the online filing of certificates of candidacy in a bid to avoid personal contacts amid rising COVID-19 cases in the country......»»
Comelec mulls virtual filing of COC in October
The Commission on Elections is studying the possibility of allowing the online filing of certificates of candidacy in October this year in a bid to avoid overcrowding amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic......»»