By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff reporter
Laoag City—Theelections officerin this city expects the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to push through this year.
Atty. Julius Balbas made the statement in view of rumors that a postponement of the said elections will happen again.
“As far as Comelec is concerned, matuloy ti election gapu taaddan appo iti calendar of activities a sursurotentayo ken awan met pay inbaba iti Kongreso or from the Office of the President a saan a matuloy ti election,” Mr. Balbas said.
He stressed that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is continuing with the preparations for the October 23, 2017 elections.
He said the Comelec calendar of activities, through Comelec Resolution No. 10177, has already came up with prohibition periods leading up to the elections.
In this city, Mr. Balbas said they have conducted applications for registration from November 7, 2016 to April 29, 2017.
He disclosed that their office registered at least 2,000 new registrants for both the barangay and SK elections.
Following the Comelec calendar, July 25, 2017 will mark the last posting day of computerized lists for barangay and SK voters. August 23-30, 2017 marks the constituting period for board of election tellers (BETs) and barangay board of canvassers (BBOC).
The calendar lists prohibitions from September 23-October 30, 2017: carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons; use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates; coercing, threatening, intimidating or terrorizing any election official or employee in the performance of his election functions or duties; transfer of detail of officers and employees in the civil service including public school teachers; organizing or maintaining reaction forces, strike forces or similar forces; and suspension of any elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay officer.
Candidates may file their certificates of candidacies from September 23-30, 2017. September 30, 2017 also marks the last day for the issuance of notice of inspection and verification of the completeness of voters’ registration records (VRRS).
The campaign period for the coming elections is from October 13-21, 2017. During the said period, Comelec prohibits removing, destroying obliterating, defacing, tampering, or preventing distribution of lawful election propaganda.
Other prohibited acts also include: any donation or gift in cash or in kind; appointing or using special police officers, special confidential agents, or the like; using armored land, water, or air crafts; and police officers and provincial guards acting as bodyguards or public officials or candidates.
The same period will also become the schedule for barangay assemblies and candidates’ fora.
Comelec also bans the construction or maintenance of barangay-funded roads and bridges; appointment or hiring of new employees; creation of new position/s; promotion, giving salary increases, remuneration or privileges to concerned officials and employees. This ban begins on October 13 until October 22, 2017.
Comelec also restricts political campaigns on October 22, 2017—the day before the elections. On the same day, the liquor ban also takes effect.
The voting period on October 23, 2017 will be from 7 am to 3 pm.
The last day for filing the statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) is on November 22, 2017.