The Commission on Election (Comelec) will not proclaim 241 candidates once they have won in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) 2023.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 25, Comelec chairman George Garcia said the proclamation of the candidates would suspended due to the pending disqualification cases they are facing before the poll body.
"We are directing our election officers in these areas to inform the barangay board of canvassers of different barangays that these personalities will and should not be proclaimed even if they will win the election by Monday," the Comelec chairman said.
According to Garcia, the full list of BSKE candidates whose proclamations are suspended would be released.
He said the grounds for disqualification cases range from "premature campaigning, vote buying, illegal campaigning, and violation of anti-political dynasty prohibition."
"Meron din patungkol sa perpetual disqualification to hold public office decided by the Ombudsman pala. So akala kasi nila hindi namin mate-trace. Yung iba doon, motu proprio ng komisyon kasi may listahan din kami," Garcia said.
"Finorward din ng Office of the Ombusman kung sino yung may perpetually disqualifed decision laban sa mga kandidato o nakaupo," the Comelec chairman added.
Based on the poll body's Memorandum No. 231111, candidates with the following pending petitions will not be proclaimed:
- to deny due course or to cancel certificate of candidacy (COC)
- to declare a nuisance candidate
- for disqualification
The said proclamation suspension shall take effect "until further orders from the Commission."
The BSKE is slated for this Monday, Oct. 30.
