Barangay, SK Filing of Candidacy To Be Held
SK FILING – The Commission On Election (COMELEC) declared that the poll period for Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections will officially start on Saturday, April 14.
On the same date, aspiring candidates can start filing their respective Certificates of Candidacy.
The COMELEC will be accepting Certificates of Candidacy in a span of 6 days, starting from 8 a.m. of April 14 until 5 p.m. of the 20th of the month.
With regards to this, on Friday, the Commission on Elections reminded the public of numerous bans and exclusions that will be implemented once the Election Period formally starts.
The prohibitions include the carriage and transportation of firearms alongside with the use of bodyguards or security personnel.
The public, nonetheless, is allowed to apply for a gun ban exemption from the COMELEC in order to carry and transport firearms. Only law enforcement agencies are permitted to carry firearms without exemption.
COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez advised the public to conform to the prohibitions to prevent further complications.
“We will be very strict in granting personal exemptions. Kung hindi mo kailangan sa trabaho, may pangamba sa buhay niyo, may threat kayo, you have to be ready to prove that you have a credible threat,” Jimenez said in an interview
Jimenez also emphasized that people working in law enforcement agencies must be in the performance of their duty and must be in complete uniform when bearing firearms to be easily identified.
According to a previous report, the nationwide gun ban will eventuate effective 12:01 a.m. on April 14.
The Commission on Elections, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, will set up random checkpoints nationwide to certify the implementation of the policy.
Local Elections will be held on May 14. The election period, on the other hand, will end on May 21, 2017.