Comelec aims to resolve all BSKE disqualification cases by next week

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is working to finish all disqualification cases for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) by next week, Comelec chair George Garcia said on Saturday.

"Before October 30, the Comelec will disqualify and eliminate names from the list of candidates for the 2023 BSKE," Garcia said in Filipino in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

Currently, there are 125 disqualification cases filed for the 2023 BSKE. Twelve candidates have been disqualified so far due to prior criminal cases.  

Recognizing that there might be cases left unresolved as the election day draws near, Garcia said that there are contingency measures in place.

"If we run out of time, Comelec can stop any proclamations. If a candidate has a valid disqualification case, we can pause the proclamation," Garcia said.

Garcia also assured the public that there won't be a leadership void in case a winning barangay chairman faces disqualification.

For instance, if the barangay captain is disqualified, Garcia explained that the No. 1-ranked kagawad would step in as the acting barangay chairman.