Disqualification deadline today

CEBU, Philippines — Petitions to disqualify candidates in the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be accepted by the Commission on Elections only until today.

Comelec provincial election supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said interested parties who wish to disqualify a candidate may submit their petitions to the election officer of their respective local government unit.

Castillano, however, clarified that the election officer can only receive the petition and send it to the head office of the Commission.

The petitions for disqualifications can be docketed only when it arrives at the office of the COMELEC head office clerk.

Castillano advised that if one wants the process to be facilitated faster, the complainant should file the petition for disqualification personally in Manila.

“Kaning barangay ay daghang kandidato, daghan sad siguro nga mo-file og petition for disqualification. Tibuok Pilipinas, there are only two divisions nga mo-husay. Mao ng medyo langay,” Castillano told reporters.

He also reminded would be petitioners that a P10,000 filing fee and another P100 legal research fee must be paid before the case can be entered in the docket.

On the other hand, provincial election officer Ferdinand Gujilde explained that there are only specific individuals who are eligible to file a petition for disqualification.

If the ground for disqualification is “nuisance candidate,” only a candidate running for the same position as the alleged nuisance candidate can file the petition. Meanwhile, any registered Filipino voter can file a petition for disqualification on other grounds like residency and age requirements.

At present, Castillano said no disqualification has been filed yet. However, there was one from Sibonga who allegedly inquired about the process.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has offered to send augmentation personnel to the areas in the province identified as potential hotspots.

Senior Superintendent Joel Doria, CCPO director, said he is willing to help should the Cebu Provincial Police Office needs augmentation.

“Pwede naman tayong mag-provide ng security personnel para ma-augment, it will depend on the request nila,” Doria said.

He said that the CCPO had been augmenting the police force in the province during major events. He cited an example the observance of the Holy Week in Bantayan Island.

So far, the municipalities of Daanbantayan and Tuburan are being considered as possible areas to be included in the election watchlist because of the history of election violence and the presence of armed groups.

CPPO director Edgar Alan Okubo earlier said he needs 700 additional troops to secure the two municipalities on May 14. — FPL (FREEMAN)