Proclamation of 92 BSKE winners halted due to pending cases in Comelec

The number of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections winners whose proclamations were put on hold due to pending petitions in the poll body has increased to 101, according to the latest data of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

As of November 2, the poll body has ordered the suspension of proclamation of 253 BSKE candidates, but only 101 won and 111 lost the elections.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia explained that the 253 orders of suspension include multiple or double cases against a single candidate.

The Comelec is also waiting for the report from their field offices with regards to the other candidates who are facing petitions before the poll body, he added.

The number increased from 79 which the Comelec reported last Tuesday.

Days before the October 30 BSKE, the Comelec passed a resolution that allows the suspension of the proclamation of BSKE winners who are facing any of the following petitions  until further orders from the poll body:

• petition to deny due course
• petition to declare a nuisance candidate, and
• petition for disqualification.

On Wednesday, the Comelec announced that voting and canvassing in all barangays had already been completed.

All winners of the BSKE were also proclaimed except for those who were ordered suspended by the Comelec and those with tie votes as the electoral boards availed of the five-day notice rule, Garcia said.

The BSKE was held on October 30 except for seven barangays in Lanao del Sur and Samar, which held the elections the following day. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News