Filing of candidacy for barangay, SK polls set Sept 14-19

Certificates of candidacy for the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections can be filed on September 14 to 19, the Commission on Elections said Tuesday. A candidate must file his or her candidacy personally or by duly-authorized representative before the election officer in his or her respective city or municipality, as required by Comelec Resolution 8297 promulgated on Sept. 6, 2007. COCs can be obtained free of charge from the election officer. The poll body will not accept COCs sent through mail, telegram or facsimile. In elections set on October 29, voters will elect a punong barangay (barangay captain) and seven Sangguniang Barangay Kagawad (barangay councilors). Young voters aged 15 years old to under 18 will elect one SK chairman and seven SK kagawad. Barangay election candidates must be Filipino citizens, at least 18 years old on election day, able to read and write Filipino or any local dialect, and, a registered voter of the barangay where he or she intends to run for office and a resident thereof for at least one year on election day. The Philippines has about 40,000 barangays. -Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV