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.

Win or lose, file your SOCE -- COMELEC

INTRAMUROS, Manila - The Commission on Elections reminds candidates for the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections to file their statements of election contributions and expenditures (SOCE) not later than June 13, 2018, or risk being perpetually disqualified to hold public office.

AFP ready to secure Monday's village & youth polls

MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP ) is more than ready to secure Monday's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKEs).

Politicians, poll bets have no say on 4Ps--DSWD

CAGAYAN de Oro City - The Department of Social Welfare and Development-10 (DSWD-10) reminded the public that election candidates, even incumbent elected officials, cannot enroll or remove beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Director Nestor Ramos

In a statement Friday, DSWD-10 Regional Director Nestor Ramos said only the agency has the authority to include or delist families from 4Ps, one of the government's poverty alleviation programs.


Ramos said the 4Ps is a poverty-reduction initiative of the national government and is being implemented with other national government agencies in coordination with non-government organizations and civil society groups.

He said the program's implementation is monitored by a multi-stakeholder group and as such, no political personalities have a say on its operations and policies.

The regional director has also assured the 4Ps beneficiaries that they can vote during the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections without fear of being delisted from the program, no matter who they voted for.

Ramos added the DSWD is no longer enrolling families to the program since it has already conducted its second round of household assessment last 2015 the "Listahan," the national household targeting system of the national government that identifies who and where the poor are in the country.

"We have already finalized our list of beneficiaries for the 4Ps, and we are now making sure that these families are benefiting from the Program through their children's education and health," he said.

Should there be families who are not included in the 4Ps but no need assistance from DSWD, Ramos said the agency has other social protection programs that can cater to their needs such as the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), social pension, Assistance for individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), among others.

"We would be happy to assist them provided that they fall under the qualifications of the programs we have," he said.

To date, there are 268,503 active 4Ps beneficiaries in Northern Mindanao, the DSWD-10 said.

Among the provinces in the region, Bukidnon has the most number of 4Ps members with 86,853, followed by Misamis Oriental with 72,576; Lanao del Norte, 68,538; Misamis Occidental, 34,764; and Camiguin, 5,772.  [Jigger J. Jerusalem, PNA]

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.

"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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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]