TWENTY one candidates in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) have been disqualified by the Commision on Election (Comelec) on the ground of premature campaigning and vote buying.
The poll body said 12 were candidates for Sangguniang Kabataan members, five were barangay kagawad bets, two were running as SK chairperson and two were Barangay chairman candidates.
It added that 17 out 21 resolutions for disqualification were final and executory since the candidates missed the five-day period to file a motion of reconsideration.
These include the bets from Batangas, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Laguna.
“So these cases, some of those have certificates of finality and entries of judgment na and pwede na pong i-execute yan [can be executed already],” Clerk of Commission Genesis Gatdula said. “So they have to reconvene and proclaim the winning candidate upon guidance of the commission.”
Three candidates were able to file motions on time, while one can still file a plea.
These bets were from Manila, Maguindanao del Norte, Rizal and Quezon City.
For his part, Comelec Spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said the disqualification is proof of action on the 7,000 show cause orders and hundreds of cases filed by the poll body.
“Mayroon po talaga sa kanila na kahit nakakuha ng pinakamaraming boto ay hindi makakaupo dahil sa paglabag sa ating mga batas,” he added.
10 of the 21 disqualified bets won in the recently concluded BSKE.
However, the Commission en banc will still discuss who will be proclaimed instead of the disqualified bets, since the rule of succession does not automatically apply.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia reiterated his commitment to quickly resolve the remaining 318 disqualification cases.
