Proclamation of multiple-termers will be suspended – COMELEC
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has said proclamation of winning candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls who are in the list of “multiple-termers” will be suspended.
In Resolution No. 9077, the commission en banc directed its Election Officers (EOs) to furnish all Barangay Boards of Canvassers (BBOCs) to put on hold any possible proclamation of winning candidates whose names are on the list provided earlier by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“The Barangay Boards of Canvassers are hereby directed to suspend the proclamation of any winning candidate who is included in the list submitted by the DILG. The proclamation shall be suspended until further orders from the Commission,” the resolution said.
“Any proclamation made in violation thereof shall be null and void,” it added.
The COMELEC warned that those who will not follow the resolution, such as any Election Officer, Provincial Election Supervisor, Regional Election Director, or any Barangay Board of Canvassers, will face administrative charges.
Earlier, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo reported that there are 4,433 barangay chairmen who are already over the term limit.
Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9164, or An Act Providing for the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, states that “No Barangay elective official shall serve for more than three consecutive terms in the same position.”
Meanwhile, the COMELEC en banc also directed its Law Department to motu propio file an election offense case against barangay officials who are elected for the same position despite having served for three or more consecutive terms.
“The Law Department shall motu proprio file an election offense case for violation of Section 74 in relation to Section 262 of the Omnibus Election Code (material misrepresentation) against these barangay officials,” the poll body said.
An election offense carries a penalty of one to six years imprisonment as well as removal of right to get elected in public office and to vote.
COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez said there are some 4,000 multiple-termers running in the barangay polls nationwide.*PNA
