Mindanaotoday.com | 33 SK bets in CdeO got DQ in 2018 poll
By: URIEL QUILINGUING
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has debunked allegations that petitions for disqualification against candidates for elective posts, questioning their eligibilities and adherence on election laws, are not being acted upon.
Lawyer Ramil Acol, city election officer for Cagayan de Oro Congressional District 2, said on Wednesday, September 13, that the Comelec had already ordered the disqualifications of 33 aspirants in the Sangguniang Kabataan elections in 2018.
One of them was already charged in court for criminal offense, while the rest are awaiting appropriate legal actions.
Acol, in a Kapihan sa PIA at Limketkai Center, said there were those who won in the balloting but could not assume as SK Council members because of the disqualification order from the Comelec Legal Department. Petitions for disqualifications were filed directly to the clerk of the Commission.
He said that although the process takes time because due process must be observed, and these are just among the many petitions nationwide.
Comelec records show there were 729 candidates in the May 14, 2018 SK elections who failed to satisfy the residency requirement, as provided for under Republic Act No. 10742, the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015.
Under Section 10 of R.A. 10742, an official of the SK must be a citizen of the Philippines; a resident of the barangay for not less than one year preceding the day of the elections; and at least 18 years but not more than 24 years of age on the day of the elections.
Other than one’s ability to read and write, an SK official must not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected official in the locality where one is seeking to be elected.
Also, an SK candidate must not have been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude.
The Philippine Information Agency-hosted forum was part of Comelec’s information dissemination activity for the village and youth council elections on October 30, this year.
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