Comelec Defers Proclamation of 1,000 Village Poll Bets

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday suspended the proclamation of some 1,000 candidates in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls who are facing disqualification cases.

According to Comelec acting chairman Al Parreño, the proclamation of these candidates has been deferred after they have been found to be overage for the youth candidates or are not registered voters in the places where they want to be elected as barangay officials.

“We are suspending around 1,000 cases as of today,” he said in a press briefing in Manila on Monday.

“The public should not be surprised if there are people who we will suspend the proclamation based on suspension order we will sign today (Monday),” the poll body chief added.

Parreño noted that the number is part of the some 4,000 disqualification cases that have been filed before them majority of which are SK bets that were found to be over 24 years old.

He explained that as for barangay polls, there are candidates that filed their Certificates of Candidacy to run in barangays where they are not registered voters.

“Approximately, we have 3,000 to 4,000 cases as of now. We are filing cases either for violation of age limit, or non-registered voter in the area where they are running,” he said.

With this, Comelec Commissioner Luie Guia said they are looking to decide on these cases next month.

“We are hoping we can resolve all of these cases by June 30 so that the succession will be smooth,” he added. (PNA)