Comelec's Garcia to Congress: Clearly define non-partisan nature of barangay polls

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia on Friday urged Congress to clearly define the non-partisan nature of barangay elections.

The Comelec chief made the proposal following reports that some local government officials allegedly delayed the counting, canvassing, and proclamation of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election (BSKE) winners.

“Tayo’y nakikiusap din sa ating kagalang-galang na Kongreso. Baka naman pupwede talaga ‘yung ma-define natin ‘yung sinasabing walang partisan political activity o sinasabing non-partisan ang barangay na sana ‘yung definition niya is to include ‘yung pag-endorso at pakikialam ng mga pulitiko na hindi naman kumakandidato,” Garcia said at a press conference.

“Nasisira kasi ‘yung pagiging non-partisan nature ng barangay kapag may nakikialam. ‘Yun naman ay personal na opinion ko lang na sana ay mapag-aralan natin nang mabuti,” he added.

(We are respectfully asking Congress to clearly define the provision of the law that declared that barangay elections are non-partisan. The definition must include prohibiting endorsements and interference from local government officials who are not running for barangay positions. The current system destroys the non-partisan nature of the barangay. That is only my personal opinion which I hope we can study carefully.)

Last Tuesday, Garcia warned a local official from the Bicol Region for allegedly delaying the proclamation of BSKE winners in at least 7 areas.

The Comelec chief said they will file criminal charges against those who threatened the poll workers during the 2023 BSKE.

Garcia earlier explained that “non-partisan” means BSKE bets are not allowed to declare political parties in the filing of their certificates of candidacy,  but they can be endorsed by officials who are members of the said party.

Under Section 38 of the Omnibus Election Code, it is explicitly stated that the “barangay election shall be non-partisan and shall be conducted in an expeditious and inexpensive manner.”

The law stated that, “No person who files a certificate of candidacy shall represent or allow himself to be represented as a candidate of any political party or any other organization; and no political party, political group, political committee, civic, religious, professional, or other organization or organized group of whatever nature shall intervene in his nomination or in the filing of his certificate of candidacy or give aid or support, directly or indirectly, material or otherwise, favorable to or against his campaign for election.” — RSJ, GMA Integrated News