Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) — The Commission on Election (Comelec) on Thursday said the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections were moved to a later date to avoid violence.
“Mas maganda kung mas malawak, mahaba ‘yung oras natin sa paghahanda [para sa barangay and SK elections],” Comelec deputy executive director Teopisto Elnas told reporters. “Pero nakikita natin the earlier (filing of COC), magkakaalaman na (agad kung sino ang mga kandidato).”
[Translation: It is better if we have more time to prepare for the barangay and SK elections. However, we see that the early filing of COC will also mean revealing early the candidates.]
Elnas added that the earlier the candidates are revealed, the higher the chance that violence may arise among them, especially in a small community such as a barangay where some bets are from the same family.
The new schedule of filing of COC is from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2 (from July 3 to 7) while the campaign period is from Oct. 19 to 28. Election day is on Oct. 30.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said they will conduct a command conference with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to strengthen safety and security measures.
