Brgy, SK bets may file COCs sans drug tests

Candidates for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections may file their certificate of candidacy even without the result of the mandatory drug testing.

This was announced by Commission on Elections-7 regional director Rene Ray Buac in an interview over Bantay Radyo the other day.

The Comelec is set to accept COCs starting tomorrow as stated in their calendar of activities for the coming barangay and SK elections on October 29.

The filing of COCs will end on midnight of October 18 while the campaign period will run from October 19 to 27.

Initially Comelec required the candidates to submit drug test results upon filing their COCs, however, Buac explained that the regional office has no jurisdiction to decide right away the disqualification of candidates who fail to submit drug test clearances.

It is before the assumption to office when a winning candidate has to present drug test results and Comelec reserves the right to disqualify winning candidates who do not have such documents.— Gregg M. Rubio/BRP