SKF elections in Cebu set

CEBU, Philippines — Fifty-one elected Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) presidents in Cebu are set to elect the president of their federation next week, June 8.

The venue for the elections though is yet to be finalized.

The Cebu SKF president-elect will sit as an ex-officio member of the Provincial Board and will chair the board’s committee on youth, which currently headed by PB Member Miguel Magpale.

The youth official will also get a seat in the Provincial Youth Commission (PYC) as a commissioner.

According to PYC Chairperson James Canoy, all 51 towns and cities in the province had already elected their respective SKF presidents last May 30.

One of them will represent Cebu youth in the PB and champion measures that will promote the welfare of the young individuals.

No Extension

Meanwhile, all barangay and SK candidates, both winners and losers, in the May 14 polls should file their statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) not later than June 13.

Otherwise, they will be perpetually disqualified to hold public office, the Commission on Elections in Central Visayas (Comelec-7) warned.

The Comelec said the June 13 deadline for the filing of SOCEs would not be extended.

Laywer Veronico Petalcorin, acting Comelec-7 director, advised the candidates to file their SOCEs before the deadline so they would still have enough time to correct any errors or deficiencies in their reports.

“Dili sila mismo sa deadline mo-file sa ilang SOCE. Mao na amo silang giawhag nga mo-file na dayon sa sayo pa aron ma-review pa kon naa bay sayop,” he said.

Around 40 percent of the candidates have already filed their SOCEs so far, said Petalcorin.

Candidates must use the Comelec form, which is downloadable from the poll body’s website, and it must be personally signed.

The SOCE must be submitted to the election officer of a town or city. The documents will be forwarded to the provincial Comelec office for consolidation before they will be submitted to the central office.

The filing of SOCE is mandated under Republic Act 7166 or the Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms.

“Every candidate and treasurer of the political party shall, within 30 days after the day of the election, file... the full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election,” reads Section 14 of the law.

The law also provides that an elected official cannot assume office if he or she fails to file his or her SOCE. — KBQ (FREEMAN)