Comelec Identifies Candidates at Risk of Proclamation Suspension in Upcoming Oct. 30 Polls

Metro Manila – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) revealed an initial list of candidates for Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) elections who may face suspension of their proclamations if they win in the polls scheduled for October 30.

According to a news release by the Philippines News Agency, the first batch includes 241 BSK candidates running in various cities within Metro Manila. The commission is also preparing suspension orders for candidates in multiple other areas, including Bukidnon, Cagayan, Bulacan, and more.

At a separate press briefing, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia stated that the commission aims to release the results of disqualification cases before the polls on Monday. “Almost half of the [disqualification cases results] of candidates who will be suspended shall be released, whether dismissed or disqualified,” he said. As of the latest count, Comelec has filed 186 disqualification petitions against BSK candidates for alleged premature campaigning and has issued 7,103 orders nationwide.

Regarding illegal campaigning, 154 out of the 1,371 candidates who received show-cause orders have responded to the Comelec. Garcia also said that the commission would investigate an incident of vote-buying reported at a warehouse on Policarpio St. M. Naval, Brgy. San Jose, Navotas City. The initial report from Navotas City Police Station (CPS) indicated that the operation led to the discovery of envelopes being distributed to voters, each containing an amount ranging from PHP300 to PHP500. “All were registered voters of Malabon and were conducting Watchers Training at the place of the incident, with more or less 200 persons inside the warehouse,” the report noted. Police authorities estimated that the total amount intended for distribution to voters was PHP363,900.