The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended the period of filing petitions of complaints against Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) aspiring candidates.
Based on Resolution No. 10950 released on Sunday, Sept. 18, Comelec said petitions to deny or cancel certificates of candidacy (COC) and to declare nuisance candidates must be filed within five days from the time that the BSKE aspirant filed the COC.
Meanwhile, the petition for disqualification on the grounds stated under Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) of the Philippines "must be filed within five days from the time of commission or from the discovery of the commission of the offense, but no later than the date of proclamation."
Under Section 68 of the OEC, a running candidate could be disqualified for vote-buying, excessive campaign spending, premature campaigning, and among others.
"Petitions for disqualification must be initiated by this Commission motu proprio not later than the date of proclamation," the poll body noted.
The petition for disqualification based on Section 40 of the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 "must be filed from the filing of the COC, but not later than the date of proclamation."
Under Section 40 of the LGC, an aspirant can be disqualified for an offense involving moral turpitude, dismissal due to administrative cases, dual citizenship, fugitives from justice, and many others.
Likewise, the Comelec directed that the petition for disqualification based on all other grounds stated under LGC and OEC and the last sentence of Section 68 of the OEC be filed within five days from the time of the filing of the COC.
"This resolution is immediately effective upon publication and shall cover all cases filed and pending for the 2023 BSKE," the poll body said.
As of Sept. 12, a total of 102 aspiring BSKE candidates have received "show cause orders" from Comelec due to early campaigning.
