Aspirants filing COCs for BSKE 2023 reach one million –Comelec

A total of 1,181,404 aspirants in the country's 82 provinces have so far filed their certificates of candidacy for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in October, the Commission on Elections reported Saturday.

In its consolidated report as of 10 a.m., Comelec said 65.75% or 776,781 aspirants were male, while 34.25% or 404,623 were female.

These aspirants were vying for 672,016 seats all over the country.

For the position of barangay chairman with a total of 42,001 seats, 85,796 aspirants have so far filed their COCs - 78.47% or 67,321 were male, while 21.53% or 18,475 were female.

Meanwhile, 638,209 aspirants who were vying for 294,007 seats for councilor have filed their COCs - 69.77% or 445,258 were male, and 30.23% or 192,951 were female.

A total of 75,434 aspirants filed for the position of Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson - 48,572 or 64.39% were male, and 26,862 or 35.61% were female.

A total of 381,965 aspirants filed for the position of Sangguniang Kabataan member - 215,630 or 56.45% were male, while 166,335 or 43.55% were female.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the start of the filing of COCs for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections was peaceful so far.

Garcia said they anticipated around two million COC filers within the filing period.

The Comelec chief added that they expected an intense election in October 2023 as the outgoing barangay and SK officials had served a significant amount of time given that village and youth council polls were postponed several times.

Meanwhile, due to the inclement weather, the Comelec suspended the filing of the COCs in the National Capital Region (NCR) last Thursday. It resumed this Saturday, September 2, and would continue until Monday, September 4.

The poll body also said the filing of COCs in Abra province would resume on Friday, September 1, and would last until Monday, September 4.

The filing of COCs in Ilocos Norte would be extended until Sunday, September 3. — DVM, GMA Integrated News