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.

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.

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.

Campaign for August 8 ARMM polls begins Friday, since no law mandates to postpone it

MAKATI CITY (MindaNews/23 June) – The campaign period for the August 8 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) begins Friday, June 24 with former Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax Mangudadatu and Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, the PDP’s candidates for governor and vice governor, firing their opening salvo with a “leaders’ forum” in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao, Cojuangco’s poll advisor, Annie Andanar said.

Congress in early June passed a bill resetting the August 8 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to synchronize it with the May 13, 2013 national mid-term elections and to allow President Aquino to appoint officers-in-charge in the interim but the bill he earlier certified as urgent, has yet to be signed into law.

Mr. Aquino is scheduled to sign it on June 30, a full year after he took his oath of office as President.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles told MindaNews the signing has been scheduled for June 30 to allow the bill’s sponsors to witness the signing.

House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said President Aquino is deliberately delaying the signing to deny the Supreme Court time to rule on the expected petitions questioning the new law.

The law presently governing the ARMM mandates a 45-day campaign period for the elections that are supposed to be held every three years.

In force

James Jimenez, spokesperson of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) told MindaNews immediately after the approval of the bill that Comelec will “stop preparations as soon as it is signed into law. The law should be considered sound until overturned.”

On June 23, he told MindaNews that because the bill has not been signed into law, they have not issued a notice stopping all election activities “so technically, the calendar of activities (in relation to the August 8 polls) will still be in force. Hence, the campaign period will start as scheduled.”

Andanar told MindaNews, “we are embarking on an alternative campaign beginning tomorrow, June 24.” She said they will hold a “leaders’ forum” at 6 p.m. tomorrow in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao, where Cojuangco has a house and where her voter’s registration was transferred.

Cojuangco is an aunt of President Benigno Simeon Aquino.

Andanar said the “leaders’ forum” will be held after the celebration of Mangudadatu’s birthday also tomorrow in Sultan Kudarat province. Mangudadatu, former governor and representative of Sultan Kudarat province transferred his voter’s registration to Buluan town in Maguindanao early last year. Sultan Kudarat province is not part of the ARMM.

She said there will be “no big rallies,” adding there will be “maximum interaction with the community formal and informal leaders, dialogues to engage the voters to participate in the exercise of their right to elect their regional officials under the organic law RA 9054.”

To the Supreme Court

Earlier, groups against the postponement of the August 8 polls had signified they would go to the Supreme Court to question the validity of the new law but no petition can be filed as yet because the bill has not been signed into law.

“The PDP-Laban, Pax Mangudadatu and I are definitely going to the Supreme Court to convince the high tribunal that pushing through with the August 8, 2011 elections was what the Constitution mandates,” the Manila Standard quoted Cojuangco as saying in its June 8 report.

Cojuangco said they were confident the Supreme Court will rule in their favor. “The Supreme Court will see in our petition that the Constitution grants the people of ARMM the freedom to choose their own leaders and the naming of OICs by the President is contrary to what is mandated by the Constitution,” she said.

Fourteen candidates for governor and 16 for vice governor filed their certificates of candidacy as of the deadline midnight of May 25.

Only two political parties fielded candidates: PDP-Laban’s Mangudadatu-Cojuangco and the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL).

Candidates

The Comelec’s list of candidates for governor: Ashmaira Mayasa Abdullah, incumbent Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Saad Ibrahim Amate, Pangalian Macaorao Balindong, Ephraim Baldomero Defino, former Anak Mindanaw partylist Rep. Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman, former OIC ARMM Governor Alvarez Silal Isnaji, Ansaroden Magangcong Sani Banuas Luman Moner, former Sultan Kudarat governor and representative Pax Pakung Sandigan Mangudadatu, Kadra Asani Masihul (KBL), Datu Habib Sarifuddin Samanodi Maulana, Elsie New Orejudos, former OIC Lanao del Sur Governor Saidamen Balt Pangarungan and Sahiron Dulah Salim.

Acting ARMM Governor Ansaruddin-Abdul Malik Alonto Adiong, brother of Mamintal, won the vice gubernatorial post in 2005 and 2008, as Zaldy Ampatuan’s running mate. He filed his certificate of candidacy for governor last Monday but slid down to vice governor after his elder brother, the Lanao del Sur governor, filed a COC for ARMM governor.

The candidates for vice governor are: Fatani Sultan Abdul Malik, Ansaruddin Abdul Malik Alonto Adiong, Mikunug Pangcatan Ampao, Arab Dimasimpun Ampasao, Shariffa Ziola Anding Bago, Datu Pelaez Alo Carudin, former Tarlac GovernorMargarita “Tingting” Delos Reyes Cojuangco, Bobby Manangaran Datimbang, Alikhan Awar Dimaro, Gani Usman Gaddung, Abdulbasit Ampaso Hadjinor, Omar Tani Hassiman, former Lanao del Sur governor Basher Dimalaang Manalao, Kano Pasandalan Nor, Marconi Curso Paiso Al Haj and Abdusakur II Abubakar Tan.

Based on Comelec records, 81 filed their COCs for 24 seats in the Regional Legislative Assembly. In Sulu, six candidates filed their COCs for assemblyman; nine in the second district; in Lanao del Sur, 12 filed in the first district, 12 also in the second district; in Maguindanao, five filed in the first district, 15 in the second; in Tawi-tawi, nine filed while 13 filed for three seats in the RLA representing Basilan.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu’s brother, Khadafy, an incumbent assemblyman, earlier filed a COC for vice governor but later opted for a reelection as assemblyman of the second district of Maguindanao.

Hataman, whose name has repeatedly been mentioned for appointment as OIC Governor, filed his COC for governor with no political party listed. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)

COMELEC to Congress: Decide early on ARMM polls postponement

Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr.

Saying it is doing a delicate balancing act, the Commission on Elections appealed to Congress Monday to decide early on whether to postpone the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao scheduled for Aug. 8.

In a radio interview, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said they stand either to waste some P2 billion in preparations for an election that will be postponed, or scramble at the last minute for an election that will turn out to proceed as scheduled.

"Siguro mapapakiusapan ni Presidente and I hope mapapakiusapan ang leadership ng House na ma-postpone. Ang hingi lang namin bilisan nang kaunti. Ang Senate is another issue. Tingnan natin kung mabibilisan nila ang pag-postpone," Brillantes told radio dwIZ.

(Perhaps President Benigno Aquino III can persuade the House of Representatives to act early to decide whether to postpone the ARMM polls. We only ask that the process be accelerated. The Senate is another issue. We hope to see the moves to postpone the elections move quicker.)

He cited concerns raised earlier by some lawmakers and officials involved in the peace process that holding the ARMM elections now may negatively affect the negotiations.

Brillantes said peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front may touch on the possible expansion of the ARMM.

A conflict may arise if the negotiations lead to changes in the areas covered by the ARMM, but only officials of provinces covered by the present ARMM are elected if the elections push through as originally scheduled on Aug. 8.

Included in the ARMM are the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and the Islamic City of Marawi.

House bill

At the House of Representatives, Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian. Balindong filed House Bill 3542 that seeks to reschedule the ARMM polls to coincide with the May 2013 mid-term elections.

"There is a chance the area covered by the ARMM may expand because of the peace process. Some sectors have thus proposed that we postpone the ARMM elections and synchronize it with the May 2013 elections. In the meantime, the terms of the incumbent ARMM officials can be extended," Brillantes said in Filipino.

Brillantes said he made a courtesy call on Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile last week, where he asked the Senate to decide early whether to postpone the ARMM elections.

"Pinakiusapan ko lang magkaroon ng postponement sa House, pakiusap namin sa Comelec bilisan lang sa Senado para di tayo mabitin sa preparation. Kung gagastos na tayo, gagastos tayo sa preparation. Pag na-postpone at tumagal ang postponement, baka malaki na rin ang nagastos natin sa preparation. Gusto natin maaga ang announcement na ma-postpone na para di gumastos masyado at ma-minimize natin ang gastos," he said.

(After I asked the House leadership to make its decision early, I asked the Senate to do the same so we can prepare well. If we are to spend for the preparations, we should do so wisely. We need the announcement to come early so we will not waste funds)," he said.

He said Enrile did not make any commitment but will monitor developments on the debates on the matter at the House of Representatives.

"Di siya nag-commit sa akin. Pero sabi niya tingnan natin pag may postponement sa House and it will go up the Senate, pakikiusapan niya na bilisan ang decision kasi kailangan namin malaman (He made no commitment but said that if the House decides to postpone the elections and the issue goes up to the Senate he will fast-track the decision)," he said.

P2B for ARMM polls preparation

In the same radio interview, Brillantes said the Comelec has set aside P2 billion for the ARMM elections. For now, he said it has spent nearly P50 million for the Aug. 8 polls.

"We don’t want to pay millions, billions ang gastos dito. We’re preparing P2 billion ang gastos sa ARMM elections (We don’t want to pay billions. We are preparing P2 billion for the ARMM elections)," he said.

He said the bulk of the P2 billion may go to buying some 5,000 Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines worth P135 million, and their software and other “consumables."

Brillantes said they will likely buy the PCOS machines from Smartmatic, saying that when the Comelec leased 82,000 machines for the 2010 elections, it had the right to exercise an option to purchase.

He said the PCOS machines will cost only about 30 percent of the cost. — RSJ, GMA News

OEC 1 - General Provisions

Article I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines."

Sec. 2. Applicability. - This Code shall govern all election of public officers and, to the extent appropriate, all referenda and plebiscites.

Sec. 3. Election and campaign periods. - Unless otherwise fixed in special cases by the Commission on Elections, which hereinafter shall be referred to as the Commission, the election period shall commence ninety days before the day of the election and shall end thirty days thereafter.

The period of campaign shall be as follows:

1. Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election - 90 days; 
2. Election of Members of the Batasang Pambansa and Local Election - 45 days; and 
3.  Barangay Election - 15 days.

The campaign periods shall not include the day before and the day of the election.

However, in case of special elections under Article VIII, Section 5, Subsection (2) of the Constitution, the campaign period shall be forty-five days.

Sec. 4. Obligation to register and vote. - It shall be the obligation of every citizen qualified to vote to register and cast his vote.

Sec. 5. Postponement of election. - When for any serious cause such as violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, and other analogous causes of such a nature that the holding of a free, orderly and honest election should become impossible in any political subdivision, the Commission, motu proprio or upon a verified petition by any interested party, and after due notice and hearing, whereby all interested parties are afforded equal opportunity to be heard, shall postpone the election therein to a date which should be reasonably close to the date of the election not held, suspended or which resulted in a failure to elect but not later than thirty days after the cessation of the cause for such postponement or suspension of the election or failure to elect.

Sec. 6. Failure of election. - If, on account of force majeure, violence, terrorism, fraud, or other analogous causes the election in any polling place has not been held on the date fixed, or had been suspended before the hour fixed by law for the closing of the voting, or after the voting and during the preparation and the transmission of the election returns or in the custody or canvass thereof, such election results in a failure to elect, and in any of such cases the failure or suspension of election would affect the result of the election, the Commission shall, on the basis of a verified petition by any interested party and after due notice and hearing, call for the holding or continuation of the election not held, suspended or which resulted in a failure to elect on a date reasonably close to the date of the election not held, suspended or which resulted in a failure to elect but not later than thirty days after the cessation of the cause of such postponement or suspension of the election or failure to elect.

Sec. 7. Call of special election. –

1. In case a vacancy arises in the Batasang Pambansa eighteen months or more before a regular election, the Commission shall call a special election to be held within sixty days after the vacancy occurs to elect the Member to serve the unexpired term.  

2. In case of the dissolution of the Batasang Pambansa, the President shall call an election which shall not be held earlier than forty-five nor later than sixty days from the date of such dissolution.

The Commission shall send sufficient copies of its resolution for the holding of the election to its provincial election supervisors and election registrars for dissemination, who shall post copies thereof in at least three conspicuous places preferably where public meetings are held in each city or municipality affected

Sec. 8. Election Code to be available in polling places. - A printed copy of this Code in English or in the national language shall be provided and be made available by the Commission in every polling place, in order that it may be readily consulted by any person in need thereof on the registration, revision and election days.

Sec. 9. Official mail and telegram relative to elections. - Papers connected with the election and required by this Code to be sent by public officers in the performance of their election duties shall be free of postage and sent by registered special delivery mail.  Telegrams of the same nature shall likewise be transmitted free of charge by government telecommunications and similar facilities.

      It shall be the duty of the Postmaster General, the Director of the Bureau of Telecommunications, and the managers of private telecommunication companies to transmit immediately and in preference to all other communications or telegrams messages reporting election results and such other messages or communications which the Commission may require or may be necessary to ensure free, honest and orderly elections.

Sec. 10. Election expenses. - Except in barangay elections, such expenses as may be necessary and reasonable in connection with the elections, referenda, plebiscites and other similar exercises shall be paid by the Commission. The Commission may direct that in the provinces, cities, or municipalities, the election expenses chargeable to the Commission be advanced by the province, city or municipality concerned subject to reimbursement by the Commission upon presentation of the proper bill.

Funds needed by the Commission to defray the expenses for the holding of regular and special elections, referenda and plebiscites shall be provided in the regular appropriations of the Commission which, upon request, shall immediately be released to the Commission.  In case of deficiency, the amount so provided shall be augmented from the special activities funds in the general appropriations act and from those specifically appropriated for the purpose in special laws.

Sec. 11. Failure to assume office. - The office of any official elected who fails or refuses to take his oath of office within six months from his proclamation shall be considered vacant, unless said failure is for a cause or causes beyond his control.

Sec. 12. Disqualifications. - Any person who has been declared by competent authority insane or incompetent, or has been sentenced by final judgment for subversion, insurrection, rebellion or for any offense for which he has been sentenced to a penalty of more than eighteen months or for a crime involving moral turpitude, shall be disqualified to be a candidate and to hold any office, unless he has been given plenary pardon or granted amnesty.

This disqualifications to be a candidate herein provided shall be deemed removed upon the declaration by competent authority that said insanity or incompetence had been removed or after the expiration of a period of five years from his service of sentence, unless within the same period he again becomes disqualified.