Unity Walk for peaceful midterm polls set on Jan. 13

BAGUIO CITY - As a show of support for safe and peaceful midterm polls, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and the Commission on Elections will hold a unity walk on Sunday, 13 Jan. 2019, the start of the election period.

"Candidates will be joining the unity walk which will show their sportsmanship as candidates," city police director Senior Supt. Eliseo Tanding said in an interview Wednesday.

The unity walk is spearheaded by COMELEC and BCPO personnel, candidates, and other stakeholders to promote a safe and peaceful 2019 midterm elections.  On the same day, the city will join other regions in the country for the simultaneous signing of peace covenants.


Tanding also expressed confidence that election in the city would be peaceful similar to that in the past, where no election-related violence was recorded.

"With a history of zero election-related incidents, I am confident that our candidates will be good sport in this election," and no violence of any level will happen.

Lawyer John Paul Martin, COMELEC-Baguio election officer said in a separate interview that they would hold command conferences with the BCPO and security coordination meetings with law enforcement agencies to ensure the smooth conduct of the polls.

As part of the voter's education campaign, a multi-sectoral vote-buying campaign will be launched on January 17.

Martin also reminded candidates and the public to abide by the election gun ban, which will begin January 13.  [Pamela Mariz Geminiano, PNA]

COMELEC allots 8-hour voting for Bangsamoro law plebiscite

MANILA - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has alloted eight hours for the voting period for the plebiscite to ratify Republic Act 11054, otherwise known as the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

COMELEC sets July 16 deadline for registration of political parties for 2019 mid-term elections

INTRAMUROS, Manila (15 Jul 2018) - POLITICAL parties, which will participate in next year's mid-term elections have only until this Monday to file their petitions for registration, according to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

COMELEC resumes voter registration on Monday

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) resumes voter registration on Monday the continuing registration of voters for the 2019 synchronized local and national elections.

Almost 100 percent proclaimed winners in village, youth polls

INTRAMUROS, Manila - About 99.81 percent of all barangays in the country have proclaimed their winning candidates in Monday's Barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) polls, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) said Tuesday.

Poll Workers' Honoraria Ready for Release on Election Day - COMELEC

INTRAMUROS, Manila - The Commission on Elections assures poll workers who will render service in the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections that they will be paid the full sum of their compensation upon the completion of their election duties on May 14, 2018.

According to the COMELEC Finance Service Department, the honoraria and travel allowances will be paid either in cash or through the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) cash card.  

For certain priority areas, poll workers will be paid in cash.  In other places, they will receive their compensation through DBP cash cards.  The payment of their compensation will be made by the Election Officers of their respective localities.


As per R.A. 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act, the following poll workers are entitled to the corresponding honoraria: Chairperson of the Electoral Boards, PhP 6,000; Members of the Electoral Boards, PhP 5,000; Department of Education Supervisor Official (DESO), PhP 4,000; and Support Staff, PhP 2,000.  Additionally, they are entitled to a travel allowance of PhP 1,000 each.

Pursuant to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Ruling No. 003-08 dated April 14, 2018, honoraria and travel allowances are subject to 5% withholding tax. [Education and Information Department, COMELEC]

No automatic disqualification for bets on drug list - COMELEC

James Jimenez

INTRAMUROS, Manila - Having a candidate's name included in the drug watchlist of the government would not automatically disqualify or bar him from running in an election, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) clarified on Friday.

COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez explained that only a final judgment on the alleged crime - a court conviction - would disqualify a candidate's bid for public office, apart from other factors of disqualification.

"Having your name on the list of drug suspects or people suspected to be involved in the drug trade will not really have an effect on what the COMELEC does," Jimenez said in a press briefing.

"Being on [a] drug list will not disqualify a person from running for office.  Disqualification only comes from a final judgment against the person, apart from other reasons for disqualification," the polling body official said. [Julius N. Leonen, Inquirer.net]

No need for bio-data, campaign platform in COCs--COMELEC

INTRAMUROS, Manila - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Sunday said there is no need for candidates in the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls to attach their bio-data and campaign platforms in Certificates of Candidacy (COCs).

"It actually has no bearing in the filing of COCs.  The Election Officer will accept the COC forms, with or without bio-data (and) program of government," COMELEC posted on Twitter.

The clarification was issued after receiving queries if the poll body added new requirements in the filing of COCs.

The COMELEC, however, noted that it would be better if poll aspirants who will file COCs will include such documents.

"This will help you in informing and educating voters in voting wisely come campaign period," the COMELEC added.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier urged COMELEC to require barangay and SK bets to submit their bio-data or resume.

Last Saturday, the poll body started the period of filing COCs for the village and youth polls, which will run until Friday, April 20.

COCs must be filed with the Office of the Election Officer that has jurisdiction over the barangay, where they are seeking office, between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.


Meanwhile, Commissioner Rowena Guanzon advised would-be candidates to make sure that they are not members of any political party.

"Be aware: Candidates for barangay positions will sign Certificate of Candidacy that states they are not members of any political party, group, or coalition of parties," she posted on Twitter.

Under Section 38 of the Omnibus Election Code, no person, who files a COC, shall represent or allow himself to be represented as a candidate of any political party or any other organization during the barangay and SK elections.

"They could be penalized in accordance with the provisions of the Omnibus Election Code, which is a criminal offense," Guanzon added. [Ferdiand Patinio, PNA]

Barangay, SK candidates have until Friday to file COCs - COMELEC

INTRAMUROS, Manila - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Wednesday said the period for the filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) by aspirants in the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections will not be extended.

COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez noted that those who would like to participate in the forthcoming polls have until Friday to submit their respective COCs at the poll body office in the city/municipality they intend to run.




"We will not have an extension.  It will end Friday, April 20.  We don't have an announcement or plan to extend the filing period.  As we speak, April 20 is our last day of filing and our office hours are still 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.," he said in a weekly forum in Manila.

Jimenez added that after the filing period, the COCs will be brought to the COMELEC central office for evaluation.

"We need to finish the evaluation for two weeks then we will issue a list of candidates for the village and youth polls," he said.

Meanwhile, the COMELEC reported that a total of 305,082 COCs have been filed since the filing period started on April 14.

Of the number, a total of 225,617 COCs were filed for barangay elections, with 28,436 vying for barangay chairman and 197,181 aspiring for kagawad (councilor).

Meanwhile, 79,465 COCs were filed for SK elections, with those vying for chairman numbering to 18,298 and kagawad totaling to 61,167.

Jimenez said the figures were from the reports of 1,444 cities and municipalities. [Ferdinand Patinio, PNA]

Bizman nabbed for poll gun ban violation

GAPAN CITY, Nueva Ecija - A 42-year-old businessman from this city is the first violator of the gun ban in connection with the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

Dennis Beley, a resident of Barangay San Roque of this southern Nueva Ecija city, yielded a cal. 45 pistol "with an inserted magazine and three live ammunition, police said.

Supt. Peter Madria, Gapan City police chief, said Beley was on board a Mitsubishi L300 van (ATA 3451) when he was flagged down in a checkpoint in Barangay Sto. Cristo at around 1:05 a.m. Saturday, barely an hour after the election period took effect.


"Beley voluntarily opened the sling bag with the gun and had subsequently presented pertinent documents," Madria said.

He said all gun permits are temporarily suspended due to election ban.

The suspect is now facing charges of violation of the Omnibus Election Code. [Marilyn Galang, PNA] 

Election Period starts April 14, Gun Ban & Filing of Certificate of Candidacy

THE Commission on Elections (COMELEC) today said that the Election Period in connection with the May 14, 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will start on April 14, 2018, and will run until May 21, 2018.

Party-list groups have until April 30 to register - COMELEC

INTRAMUROS, Manila - New and existing party-list organizations may file their manifestation to participate in the 2019 midterm elections until April 30, 2018, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) said Monday.

"Certificates of Candidacy" for village polls now available

MANILA (2 Apr 2018) - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Monday announced that certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections can now be downloaded online.

COMELEC disqualifies 24 groups from 2019 party-list polls

INTRAMUROS, Manila (20 Mar 2018) - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has disqualified 24 party-list groups from participating in the May 2019 elections.

COMELEC to probe Sotto fraud expose

THE Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Wednesday said it will investigate alleged poll irregularities earlier exposed by Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III that supposedly altered the results of the 2016 national elections.

COMELEC summons former President Aquino, ex-aides over immunization program

INTRAMUROS, Manila - THE Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Law Department has summoned former President Benigno Aquino III and two former Cabinet secretaries to an investigation into an alleged election offense involving the purchase of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.

COMELEC: Palace statement to end 'uncertainty' of village polls' fate

James Jimenez

INTRAMUROS, Manila - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is hoping that Malacanang's pronouncement stating that this year's Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will push through, will put an end to the uncertainty on whether to postpone it or not.

"This is something that the people should be aware of because the President is all too often used as an excuse (to postpone BSKE)," COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez said in an interview Tuesday.

COMELEC releases 'Calendar of Activities' for 2018 Barangay & SK Elections

The Commission on Elections has prescribed a new CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES and periods of prohibited acts in connection with the May 14, 2018 synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections.

Ballot printing in full swing despite calls for another postponement of village and youth polls

INTRAMUROS, Manila (17 Feb 2018) - PRINTING of additional 18 million ballots for the coming barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) elections has pushed through despite strong indications from leaders of Congress to postpone anew the two polls.

Commission Elections (COMELEC) spokesman James Jimenez said the additional ballots were for new voters who registered during the 25-day continuing registration held last November 2017 and also for voters of Mindanao in Southern Philippines.

Surigao congressman files bill to postpone barangay and SK polls

Surigao Rep. JOHNNY T. PIMENTEL

SURIGAO City (17 Feb 2018) - Surigao del Sur Congressman Johnny Pimentel seeks to postpone the barangay and SK elections scheduled this May 2018 to another date in October 2018.

House Bill No. 7072 filed by Representative Pimentel seeks to give the Commission on Elections and other involved agencies additional time to further ensure credible and effective barangay elections.