Comelec ready to hold BSKE if SC sets it at an earlier date — Garcia

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is prepared to hold the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) should the Supreme Court decide to set it at an earlier date, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said Tuesday.

The Comelec chairman made the remark when asked about the pending decision of the SC on the petition questioning Republic Act 11935 which postponed the December 2022 barangay polls to October 2023.

"Under our worst case scenario, kung sabihin man na mas maaga dapat sa October ang ating eleksyon katulad ng aming sinabi, handa naman ang Comelec," Garcia said in a press conference.

Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay, the commissioner-in-charge for the BSKE, had said that all materials to be used for the 2023 polls were already delivered before the end of 2022, Garcia added.

Further, the Comelec chief assured the public that they will continue the printing of the ballots for the BSKE before the end of January or after the printing of the ballots for the special election in Cavite.

"Kahit pa October mas maganda nang maaga. Iiimbak lang naman namin nang maayos e. Iwe-warehouse lang naman namin nang maayos e. Bakit isasagad pa namin tapos pag sumagad magkakaproblema na naman tayo. So mas maganda na ayusin na lahat tutal naman ininsist na ni Comm. Rey Bulay na naandyan na lahat ng kagamitan and therefore, kung sakali mang sabihin saming mas maaga [ang polls], the Comelec is prepared," he said.

At the same press conference, Garcia expressed hope that the SC will release its decision by January.

He cited Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo's statement that the SC will resolve all the petitions of national concern by the end of January.

"We agree na dapat, hopefully, sana mga January ma-resolve na 'yung issue at mukhang nakalista don sa number one na item don e 'yung i-resolve ang tungkol sa issue ng BSKE...Kasi nga po hanging pa rin 'yung mga desisyon dahil din don sa issue na iyan," he said.

"But just the same, nagdesisyon na ang komisyon na proceed na lang kami nang proceed. It doesn't matter whatever is the decision of the Supreme Court. If it's October, fine. We are prepared by October. If it is May, fine we are prepared by May or whatever the month na gugustuhin ng ating Korte Suprema," he added.

Meanwhile, Garcia said Comelec is not yet discussing the possibility of extending the voter registration period beyond January 31.

He reiterated Comelec's call to the public to register before the deadline to avoid long queues in their offices.

"Wag po nating dagsain ang ating opisina ng comelec sa mga huling araw [ng voter registration period]. Kaya po tayo nagkakaproblema, kaya po humahaba ang pila, kaya maraming nakakapagreklamo. Inaayos natin ang sistema pero correspondingly dapat po sana ay meron din tayong obligasyon na makapunta," he said.

From December 12 to 30,2022, Comelec Deputy Executive Director Raffy Olanio said there are 60,491 new registrants for the SK polls; 101,944 new voters aging 18 to 30 years old; and 25,694 new registrants aging 31 and above. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News