Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 11) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will order the suspension of proclamation of winning candidates with pending disqualification cases in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
Comelec Chairman George Garcia on Wednesday said candidates proven to engage in vote buying and premature campaigning are not off the hook even if they are proclaimed as winners. “Kapag may merits ang kaso, kapag may ebidensiya laban sa isang kandidato at kung hindi pa namin nareresolba ang kaso bago ang eleksyon [When the case has merits, when there is evidence against a candidate and if we have not resolved the case before the election], we are willing to suspend any and or proclamation in order to prevent the proclamation of any candidate with pending disqualification cases,” he said.Garcia explained that Comelec could still remove the local official from his or her post once the case is resolved.“Kung ang may kaso yung kandidato ng barangay chairman, nahalal siya, pinasuspend namin yung proclamation niya,” he explained. “Oh walang problema, may kagawad naman na number one. Under the local government code, siya muna magsa-succeed hanggang ‘di pa nare-resolve yung kaso.”[Translation: If the candidate for barangay chairman has a case and he is elected, then we suspend his proclamation. Oh, there’s no problem, there is a kagawad who will succeed him until the case is resolved.]The poll body chief reiterated his warning to BSKE candidates that they will go after those engaging in vote-buying, premature campaigning, and other election offenses.Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos warned local officials who may violate the election law.“I’m warning our government, our LGUs. Please, please follow all the guidelines, follow the law,” Abalos said on Wednesday. “Ito ay barangay elections, mahirap, this is supposed to be non-partisan.The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement with Comelec in support of its intensified campaign against vote buying and ensuring a peaceful and safe election on Oct. 30.
