DISQUALIFICATION PETITIONS. Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Erwin Garcia says the poll body targets to secure the disqualification of erring candidates of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) before Oct. 30, in a press conference on Thursday (Sept. 28, 2023). He said Task Force Kontra Epal would start the first batch of filing of disqualification petition on Sept. 29 against 30 BSKE bets. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – Some erring candidates for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) may be disqualified even before the Oct. 30 polls, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chief George Erwin Garcia said.

“Almost sure ako na may desisyon ang Comelec bago mag-Oct. 30… Ngayong araw din po ang Task Force against premature campaigning ay nagpadala na ng mga notices furnishing the copy ng petition na ifa-file nila bukas (I’m almost sure that the Comelec will have a decision before Oct. 30… Today, the Task Force against Premature Campaigning sent their notices furnishing the copy of the petition to be filed tomorrow),” Garcia said in a press conference on Thursday.

In particular, Task Force Kontra Epal Chief and Comelec 8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Nick Mendros reported about 30 petitions for disqualification to be filed as the first batch on Friday.

As of Thursday, 199 possible disqualification cases were reported after receiving answers from 529 BSK bets.

Dropped complaints reached 207 due to a lack of factual basis while 3,198 show cause orders were issued to BSKE candidates.

Garcia noted that the Comelec may come up with resolutions as early as the second week of October.

He explained that this is due to the Comelec division’s “summary proceedings” in all filed petitions.

“By Monday, it will be raffled to a division and the division will immediately issue the summons requiring the respondent to file an answer within the period of three days,” he said.

Garcia said the petitioners’ response within the three days shall be treated as an answer memorandum subject to a decision unless otherwise deemed necessary for further hearing.

“With or without the answer, the case is deemed submitted for resolution. Wala nang hearing hearing, marking marking of evidence masyado, pinapatagal lang ng iba (No more hearing or too much marking of evidence [which are used by] others for delays),” he added.

Garcia, meanwhile, warned that proven violators could face criminal charges.

“Di po matatapos sa disqualification ‘yung kakaharapin niyo (You will not end up just facing disqualification). You may go to the Supreme Court yes, but just the same, you will make (it) public. Public record na ‘yan e (That’s already a public record),” he said.

Earlier, the poll body said aside from disqualification, violators could also face election offense charges and could be meted out a prison term of between one and six years; forfeiture of the right to suffrage; and perpetual disqualification to hold public office for aspiring candidates.

Poll violence incidents

On Friday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it logged 51 incidents a month ahead of the Oct. 30 polls.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said only seven cases were confirmed as election-related incidents (ERIs) – three in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and one each in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol and Northern Mindanao.

Meanwhile, eight incidents are under investigation while the rest were confirmed as non-ERIs.

Fajardo said 654 firearms have been confiscated at checkpoints while 1,063 persons were arrested since the start of the election gun ban on Aug. 28.

She added 1,288 firearms have been deposited to the PNP for safekeeping while 1,156 firearms with expired licenses have been surrendered to them.

The election period for the BSKE started on Aug. 28 and will end on Nov. 29. (with report from Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)