Comelec OKs suspension of proclamation of BSKE winners with pending cases

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday approved a resolution that allows the suspension of the proclamation of 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) winners who have pending cases before the poll body.

“The Commission, after due deliberation, resolved... to approve the suspension of the proclamation of named respondents with pending petitions: 1) to deny due course or to cancel the certificate of candidacy (COC); 2) to declare a nuisance candidate; and 3) for disqualification until further orders from the Commission,” the resolution read.

The resolution also reiterated the policy in Section 600 of Comelec Resolution 10924 that the presiding commissioners of each division and the chairman, as the presiding officer of the Comelec en banc, are authorized to issue the order of suspension of the proclamation of respondent candidates with pending cases.

To implement orders for suspension of proclamation that may be issued by a Comelec division or the Commission en banc, the Deputy Executive Director of Operations is directed to immediately inform and furnish the concerned Election Officers and Barangay Board of Canvassers (BBOC) with a copy of the Order of Suspension.

The Office of the Clerk of the Commission is directed to immediately inform the respondent candidates and likewise furnish them with a copy of the Order of Suspension through the fastest means available.

The Office of Election Officer is also directed to monitor the implementation of the Order of Suspension by the BBOC.

As of October 23, 181 BSKE candidates are facing disqualification cases over premature campaigning, and there are 338 possible disqualification petitions to be filed upon Comelec’s initial assessment.

The Comelec also has five possible disqualification cases to be filed against 2023 BSKE bets over illegal campaigning. —VBL, GMA Integrated News