"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.

SK polls to give youth chance to implement reforms

MANILA (22 Mar 2018) - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has welcomed the announcement of Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III that the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections this May would proceed as scheduled.

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.

Bill postponing village & youth polls to October hurdles 2nd reading

MANILA - The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading a measure seeking to postpone the May 2018 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to the second Monday of October of this year.

House panel resets village polls to October

MANILA - THE Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms of the House of Representatives postponed the barangay (village) elections in May in anticipation of a plebiscite for the New Constitution in October 2018.

In a 17-0 vote, the House panel decided to postpone the polls to the second Monday of October.

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.

Con-com votes to adopt federal-presidential form of government

MANILA - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's Consultative Committee (Con-com), which is tasked to review the 1987 Constitution, voted on Tuesday to adopt a presidential-federal form of government as among the constitutional revisions.

Palace: Barangay elections to proceed

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. on Monday, February 26, made it clear that barangay officials should be elected by the people.

He warned the public that the Palace did not give any permission to any individuals or groups to nominate nor receive applications from people who would want to become barangay officials.

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.

Davao local executives unite for 'Hugpong' party

DAVAO City - All national political parties stand to lose their allies in the Davao Region after majority of the local chief executives, board members, and councilors pledged allegiance to "Hugpong ng Pagbabago" (HNP),  a newly formed regional political party led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and the four governors of Davao.

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.

COMELEC to use 2017 Ballots for 2018 Village & Youth polls

INTRAMUROS, Manila (19 Jan 2018) - The Commission on Elections is set to use the already printed October 23, 2017 official ballots, accountable and non-accountable forms for purposes of the May 14, 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections in effort to save public funds and government resources.

Under Resolution No. 10248, voters in the National Capital Region (NCR), Luzon and Visayas Regions will be using the 59,578,346 official ballots which were printed from August 9, 2017 to September 30, 2017.


New and additional ballots, accountable and non-accountable forms will also be printed for those who registered from November 6, 2017 to November 30, 2017.  There were 843,588 voter applicants, but the Election Registration Boards (ERBs) are yet to verify, certify and seal the List of Voters on February 7, 2018.  To avoid confusion, these new ballots will bear October 23, 2017 as the date of the elections.


However, the ballots, accountable and non-accountable forms that will be printed for the Mindanao Regions will bear May 14, 2018 as the date of the elections.

No official ballots and other forms were printed for the entirety of Mindanao following the postponement of the elections there, as per COMELEC Resolution EM No. 17-003 promulgated on September 5, 2017.

Section 43 of the Omnibus Election Code does not prescribe the form and contents of the official barangay ballots nor does it require that the date of the election be specified. [Education and Information Department]

Polls postponement, costly - COMELEC

"Postponing the Barangay and SK polls, doesn't come cheaply."  COMELEC spokesperson Atty. James Jimenez announced in his Facebook page, COMELEC Spox, Wednesday, 20 September 2017.

Jimenez explained, "By the time the Senate voted to pass the postponement measure however, the Commission on Elections had already printed 26,189,091 ballots for the Barangay elections and 1,761,764 ballots for the SK polls."

House adopts Senate version to move village and SK polls to May 2018

THE House of Representatives adopted the Senate bill seeking to move the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK or youth council) elections to May 2018.

Senate set to postpone the Barangay and SK polls

After being certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte, the Senate on Wednesday approved on third and final reading the postponement of the barangay and sangguniang kabataan (SK) elections to May 2018.

House junks impeach rap vs COMELEC Chair Bautista

Voting 26-2, the House Committee on Justice chaired by Rep. Reynaldo Umali (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro) on Wednesday dismissed the impeachment complaint filed against Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Juan Andres Bautista, after finding it insufficient in form.

COMELEC sets guidelines on filing of Certificates of Candidacy

MANILA, 14 Sept 2017 - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) yesterday released the guidelines on the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) in connection with the 23 October 2017 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

Resolution No. 10196 - Guidelines on the Filing of Certificates of Candidacy for the 2017 Barangay and SK Elections

Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

Intramuros, Manila

RESOLUTION No. 10196

Guidelines on the Filing of Certificates of Candidacy in Connection with the October 23, 2017 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections
(Promulgation: 13 September 2017)

The Commission on Elections, by virtue of the 1987 Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act Nos. 7160, 9164, 9340 and 10742, 10173, 10656, 10923 and other election laws, hereby RESOLVED as it hereby RESOLVES to promulgate the following guidelines on the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) in connection with the October 23, 2017 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

COMELEC to appeal NPC ruling on hacking of poll body's website

MANILA (12 Jan 2017) - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is set to appeal the decision of the National Privacy Commission (NPC) in connection with the hacking of the former's website in March 2016.

According to COMELEC Chairman Juan Andres Bautista the commission was set to file the Motion for Reconsideration (MR) thru the Solicitor General on Friday, January 13, 2017.

Malacanang tells COMELEC to hold itself accountable for 'Comeleak'

MANILA (7 Jan 2017) - Malacanang on Friday urged the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to accept accountability for the hack on its database last year that exposed millions of voters to identity theft and fraud.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar also called on the COMELEC to release its investigation report on the hack, a day after the National Privacy Commission declared the election watchdog's chair, Andres Bautista, liable for "gross negligence" that left the election body's database highly vulnerable to cyber-attack.

Criminal charges recommended vs COMELEC chairman Bautista

MANILA (5 Jan 2017) - The National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Thursday recommended the filing of criminal charges against COMELEC chairman Andres Bautista and the poll body for the theft of millions of voters' personal records in 2016.

Since dubbed "Comeleak," the cybersecurity breach is one of the biggest data heists in history that saw the theft of as many as 55 million personal records from the COMELEC website, according to early estimates.

80-M records hit but no effect on election

However, the exhaustive NPC investigation revealed that the number was closer to 80-million:

• 75,302,683 records comprising the Precinct Finder web application voter database
• 1,376,067 records comprising the Post Finder web application voter database
• 139,301 records comprising the iRehistro registration database
• 896,992 personal data records comprising the firearms ban database
• 20,485 records of firearm serial numbers, also from the firearms ban database
• 1,267 records comprising the COMELEC personnel database

NPC commissioner Raymundo Liboro assured the public that the data breach did not affect the results of the national election.  However, he underscored the gravity of the heist and the long-held need for stricter data privacy measures in the country.

"This is the largest security breach ever of a government institution anywhere in the world," Liboro lamented.

Violation of 2013 Data Privacy Act

In its 35-page decision, the NPC found the COMELEC itself to have been in violation of Sections 11, 20, and 21 of Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

COMELEC chairman Andres Bautista was also found to have violated the same sections, as well as Section 22 in relation to Section 26 of the same Act.

"We are not saying he is guilty, but we have substantial evidence, hence the recommendation to file charges (against Bautista).  The evidence was sufficient to recommend prosecution," said NPC deputy commissioner Atty. Ivy Patdu.

The NPC criticized Bautista for his "lack of appreciation" for the need for stringent cyber-security measures.

"Data privacy is more than the deployment of technical security; it also includes the implementation of physical and organizational measures, as well as regular review, evaluation, and updating of COMELEC's privacy and security policies and practices," the decision read.

'COMELEC was negligent'

Patdu explained that the COMELEC had no security measures in place, so it was only a matter of time before any data on the agency's site was stolen.

She also said that the agency should have implemented stringent end-to-end security beginning from the point of data collection, and not just on the website.

The responsibility for this falls squarely on the COMELEC and its leadership, according to Patdu.

"It was a failure of duty required by law.  It's tantamount to negligence," she said.

Irreversible damage

Patdu also lamented the irreversible damage caused by the hack.

"Our data is out there.  The danger is there, even if it's not immediately apparent right now.  It can be felt years from now.  (That's why) we should urge government to take data protection seriously," Patdu said, warning that the data could be used for malicious purpose at any time.

The decision caps a months-long investigation into the crime.

'Misappreciation' of facts

Reached for his comments, Bautista said the NPC findings were based on "misappreciation" of facts.

"With all due respect to the NPC membership, we believe that the NPC decision was based on misappreciation of several facts, legal points, and material contexts," Bautista said.

He also defended himself after the NPC "conveniently points to the Head of Agency as solely responsible for the data breach."

Bautista said the COMELEC en banc, "currently managed by seven lawyers," including himself, "(relies) on our IT Department for expert advice on website/data security and privacy and IT-related matters."

History of COMELEC heist

On March 27, 2016, a group of hackers gained access to the COMELEC website and defaced the agency's page.  A second group took advantage of the same vulnerability and managed to steal the agency's voter database, which happened to be accessible from the site.

The database was made public, exposing the personal information of millions of Filipino voters to identify thieves and other hackers.

Fear quickly spread that the information could be used to rig the looming presidential elections.  The COMELEC initially downplayed the gravity of the breach, but the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas issued a memorandum warning all banks to be wary of attempts at identity theft.

Within a month, the National Bureau of Investigation's Cybercrime Division arrested two suspected hackers who were alleged directly involved in the breach.

In August, Bautista said that the poll body had committed to working closely with the NPC and the DOST to ensure the future security of COMELEC data.  [TJ Dimacali, GMA News]

President Aquino signs law postponing SK elections

It is now official, there will be no Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on October 28, 2013.

President Benigno Aquino III has already signed on October 3, 2013 (Thursday) the law postponing the youth council polls which was supposedly sychronized with the barangay elections on October 28.

The new date for the SK polls will be between October 28, 2014 and February 23, 2015, which shall be determined by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

There will be no holdover for current SK officials, who shall all step down from office when their term ends at noon on November 30, 2013.

There will also be no temporary appointments to fill the vacancy until the next elections.

Congress is now coming up with reforms in the youth councils, giving themselves a year to pass reforms into law.

COMELEC disqualifies Laguna Gov ER Ejercito for campaign overspending

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has disqualified Laguna governor E.R. Ejercito for overspending during the campaign of the May elections.

COMELEC Resolution No. 9783

RESOLUTION No. 9783

Supplemental Guidelines for the Implementation of Resolution No. 9739, "In the Matter of Collecting the Shares of Barangays to Augment the Funds to be Used for the Conduct of the 2013 Barangay & Sangguniang Kabataan Elections"

(Promulgated:  September 26, 2013)

Senate and House agree to leave SK posts vacant after poll postponement

By: Andreo Calonzo

GMA News Online

MANILA, Philippines (Sept 24, 2013) - Members of the bicameral conference committee tackling the bill postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls on Tuesday agreed to leave the youth council posts vacant until new officials are elected.

COMELEC slows down in SK polls preparation

By: Tina G. Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines (12 Sept 2013) - The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls will most likely be postponed, according to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes said Wednesday they have in fact slowed down their preparations for the SK polls.

COMELEC extends COC filing for 3 more days

James Jimenez

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has extended the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the October 28 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls from three days to six days.

Candidates are allowed to file their COC from October 11 to 17, during office hours or from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

COMELEC sets three days only for filing of certificates of candidacy for barangay and SK polls

The Commission on Elections sets barely three (3) days for candidates to file their respective certificates of candidacy (COC) for the forthcoming synchronized village and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October 28, 2013. 
 

In a resolution promulgated on June 18, 2013, the COMELEC en banc sets October 15 to 17, 2013 as the inclusive dates for  both the youth and the barangay candidates to each submit, at the local COMELEC field offices, a duly accomplished form announcing their respective candidacies.  

COMELEC Resolution No. 9739

RESOLUTION No. 9739

In the Matter of Collecting the Shares of Barangays to Augment the Funds to be Used for the Conduct of the 2013 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections

(Promulgation: 10 July 2013)

WHEREAS, under Republic Act No. 10352 or the General Appropriations Act for the Fiscal Year 2013, only One Billion, One Hundred Seventy-Five Million and Ninety-Eight Thousand Pesos (Php 1,175,098,000.00) was alloted and set aside by Congress for the conduct of the 2013 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections;

WHEREAS, the foregoing amount is insufficient to defray all the necessary and reasonable expenses to successfully hold and manage the 2013 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections and to ensure that the said elections are honest, orderly, peaceful, and credible;

WHEREAS, under Section 50 of the Omnibus Election Code, local government units are required to appropriate funds to defray election expenses, thus:

"Section 50. Funding. - Local governments shall appropriate such funds to defray such necessary and reasonable expenses of the members of the board of election tellers, board of canvassers and the printing of election forms and procurement of other election paraphernalia, and the installation of polling booths."

WHEREAS, under Section 532 (c) in relation to Section 329 both of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code, funding for the regular elections of the Sangguniang Kabataan shall be taken from the ten per centum (10%) of the general fund of Barangays which have been reserved and set aside for the Sangguniang Kabataan;

WHEREAS, under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 9164 as amended by Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9340, the appropriations of the Commission which shall be used for the implementation of the said statutes may be augmented by an amount not exceeding the ten per centum (10%) of the general fund of Barangays which have been reserved and set aside for the Sangguniang Kabataan pursuant to Section 532 (c) of the Local Government Code; and

WHEREAS, the insufficiency of the funds appropriated for the conduct of the 2013 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections has made it necessary for the Commission to collect the aforementioned shares.

NOW, THEREFORE, after due deliberation, the Commission En Banc, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, the Local Government Code, and Republic Acts Nos. 6653, 6679, 8524, 9164, and 9340, hereby RESOLVES:

1. To REQUIRE all local government units (LGUs) to set aside such amounts as may be necessary to augment the appropriations of the Commission for the conduct of the 2013 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, which in no case shall be less than Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000.00) but not more than ten per centum (10%) of the general fund of Barangays which have been reserved and set aside for the Sangguniang Kabataan.

Any and all amounts forwarded pursuant to this Resolution shall be used primarily to defray the expenses of the Board of Election Tellers (BETs) for the following:

1.1. Transportation allowance in the amount of Five Hundred Pesos (Php 500.00) for each member of the BET;

1.2. Additional honoraria of the members of the BET; and

1.3. Trainings and meetings.

The amounts shall be released by the LGUs to the Election Officers.  For this purpose, field officials of the Commission are directed to extend cooperation and assistance in the disbursement of these amounts.

In instances where there is no appropriated fund for a barangay, the LGU concerned shall ask for a supplemental budget from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The use of the collected shares shall at all times be open for inspection of the Commission on Audit or its duly authorized representative.

2. To SEEK the assistance of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Commission on Audit (COA) and DBM for the collection of the funds from the LGUs.

3. To AUTHORIZE Commissioner Christian Robert S. Lim, the Chairperson of the Steering Committee for the 2013 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the DILG, DBM, and COA for purposes of facilitating the implementation of this Resolution, subject to the confirmation of the Commission En Banc.

Let the Steering Committee and the Project Director of the Project Management Office for the 2013 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections implement this Resolution.

SO ORDERED.

COMELEC Res. No. 9739 - In the Matter of Collecting the Shares of Barangays To Augment The Funds To Be Used...

COMELEC Resolution No. 9740 - Guidelines on the Filing of Certificates of Candidacy in Connection with the October 28, 2013 Synchronized Barangay and SK Elections

Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

Intramuros, Manila

GUIDELINES ON THE FILING OF CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY IN CONNECTION WITH THE OCTOBER 28, 2013 SYNCHRONIZED BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS.		BRILLANTES, S.S. Jr. TAGLE, I.N. YUSOPH, E.R. LIM, C.R.S. PADACA, M.G.C.M. PARREÑO, A.A. GUIA, I.T.F.G.	Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x		Promulgated:  July 10, 2013

RESOLUTION NO. 9740

The Commission on Elections, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 9164, and other election laws, RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES to promulgate, the following guidelines on the filing of certificates of candidacy in connection with the October 28, 2013 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections:

SECTION 1. Officials to be Elected. - The officials to be elected in each barangay are the following:

(a) For the Barangay Elections:  One (1) Punong Barangay and seven (7) Members of the Sangguniang Barangay.

(b) For the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections:  One (1) Chairman and seven (7) Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan.

SECTION 2. Qualifications. - (a) A candidate for Punong Barangay and Member of the Sangguniang Barangay must be:

1. A citizen of the Philippines;

2. A registered voter in the barangay where he intends to be elected;

3. A resident therein for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election;

4. Able to read and write Filipino or any other local language or dialect; and

5. At least 18 years old on election day;

(b) Candidate for Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman and Member of the Sangguniang Kabataan must be:

1. A Filipino citizen;

2. A qualified voter of the katipunan ng kabataan;

3. A resident of the barangay for at least one (1) year immediately prior to election;

4. At least fifteen (15) years old but less than eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the election;

5. Able to read and write Pilipino, English or the local dialect; and

6. Must not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.

SECTION 3. Certificate of Candidacy. - No person shall be elected Punong Barangay, Member of the Sangguniang Barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman or Member of the Sangguniang Kabataan unless he files a sworn Certificate of Candidacy in triplicate in the form prescribed by the Commission.

Sample forms of the Certificate of Candidacy are attached hereto, and are available at the Office of the Election Officer for free.  Sample forms may be photocopied or reproduced, or downloaded from the COMELEC official website (www.comelec.gov.ph).  Certificates of Candidacy filed not in the prescribed format shall NOT be accepted.

Certificate of Candidacy for Punong Barangay  
Certificate of Candidacy for Member, Sangguniang Barangay

No person shall be eligible to run for more than one office, and if he files his certificate of candidacy for more than one office, he shall not be eligible for any of them.  However, before the expiration of the period for the filing of Certificate of Candidacy, the person who has filed a certificate of candidacy for more than one office may declare under oath the office for which he desires to be elected and cancel the certificate of candidacy for the other office.

SECTION 4. Contents of Certificate of Candidacy. - The Certificate of Candidacy shall be under oath and shall state that the person filing it is announcing his candidacy for the office and constituency stated therein; the full name of the candidate; that he is eligible for said office; that he is not a member of any political party, group or coalition of political parties; his age; gender; civil status; place and date of birth; his citizenship; if married, the full name of the spouse; his legal residence, giving the exact address and the number of years he has been residing in the country and in the place where he intends to be elected; the barangay, city or municipality and province where he is a registered voter; his post office address for election purposes; his profession or occupation or employment; that he is not a permanent resident or an immigrant to a foreign country; that he will file, with the Office of the Election Officer, within thirty (30) days after election day, his full, true and itemized Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) in connection with the election; that he will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; that he will obey the laws, legal orders, decrees, resolutions, rules and regulations promulgated and issued by the duly-constituted authorities; that he assumes the foregoing obligations voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that the facts stated in the certificate are true and correct to the best of his knowledge.

Unless a candidate has officially changed his name through a court approved proceeding, a candidate shall use in his Certificate of Candidacy the name by which he has been baptized, or if he has not been baptized in any church or religion, the name registered in the office of the local civil registrar or any other name allowed under the provisions of existing law or, in the case of a Muslim, his Hadji name after performing the prescribed religious pilgrimage: Provided, That when there are two (2) or more candidates for the same office with the same name and surname, each candidate, upon being made aware of such fact, shall state his paternal and maternal surname, except an incumbent who may continue to use the name and surname stated in his Certificate of Candidacy when he was elected.

The person filing the Certificate of Candidacy may include one nickname or stage name by which he is generally or popularly known in the locality; Provided, That no candidate shall use the nickname, stage name or initial of another.  In case of several nicknames or stage names, only the nickname or stage name first written shall be considered.

Titles, such as Don, Datu, Atty., Dr., Ginoo or other words of similar imports shall not be allowed.

The person filing the Certificate of Candidacy shall also affix his latest photograph, passport size; a statement in duplicate containing his bio-data and program of government, if he so desires.

Documentary stamps in the amount of Fifteen Pesos (Php 15.00) shall be attached to the Certificate of Candidacy.

The Certificate of Candidacy may be sworn before a Notary Public or any official authorized to administer oath.  The Election Officer is authorized to administer oath the COCs filed within his area of jurisdiction, free of charge.

COMELEC Res. No. 9740 - Guidelines on the Filing Certificates of Candidacy - Oct 28, 2013 Brgy & SK Electio... by Jess Villarin Quijano

Party-list groups don't have to be marginalized, Supreme Court says

By Kim Arveen Patria
Yahoo! NEWS

MANILA, Philippines (6 Apr 2013) - Party-list organizations need not represent marginalized sectors, Supreme Court said in a decision released Friday.

The ruling might allow previously barred groups to run in the May elections, a move COMELEC objects to.

COMELEC reshuffles field election officers to ensure absolute impartiality

The Commission on Election reshuffles its field election officers effective March 20, 2013 to their respective new places of assignments to ensure absolute impartiality in the forthcoming May 13, 2013 Automated National and Local elections.  

Resolution No. 9640 - General Instructions for BEI on Testing and Sealing, Voting, Counting and Transmission of Election Results

Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

Intramuros, Manila

RESOLUTION NO. 9640

General Instructions for the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) on the Testing and Sealing, Voting, Counting, and Transmission of Results in Connection with the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections

COMELEC dispenses inspection, verification and sealing of book of voters

The Commission on Elections resolves to dispense with the inspection, verification and the sealing of the Book of Voters, which the "Voter's Registration Act of 1996" mandates the Board of Election Inspectors to be done before the start of the campaign period.  

Poll ballots printed on world's best machine

COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes inspects Smartmatic's Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) with Smartmatic Asia Pacific President Cesar Flores and Atty. Himerio Garcia Committee Secretary during the presentation of the accuracy of the PCOS machines. [Joseph Vidal/Senate Pool/NPPA Images]

By: Kim Arveen Patria
Yahoo News

COMELEC: "Remove prematurely placed election propaganda or else"

 Remove or else

MANILA, Philippines (22 Jan 2013) - The Commission on Elections today told all candidates vying for Senatorial and Partylist seats in the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections to remove all prohibited election propaganda before the start of the campaign period.

COMELEC scraps metal padlocks

By Jocelyn R. Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines (19 Jan 2013) - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is shifting from the use of metal padlocks to cheaper plastic seals to secure ballot boxes.

Gun ban starts, public reminded of their rights

MANILA, Philippines (13 Jan 2013, Sunday) – Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Sunday said the start of the nationwide gun ban “does not suspend” the rights of the people, reminding the public to assert their rights at all times.

The five-month total gun ban covers everyone, except those from government agencies that are given an automatic exemption by the election body.