ILOILO City – Out of the 25 candidates in Region 6 served with suspension orders on their proclamation, four who won in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections have yet to be proclaimed. Commission on Elections (Comelec) Region 6 director Atty. Dennis Ausan confirmed to Panay News that of the 25 candidates recently issued suspension orders by the Comelec-Central Office, four were victors but have not yet been proclaimed as the Comelec has not issued a decision on whether to dismiss the petitions.
“Out of those 25 orders of suspension issued by our Commission, we implemented four. The 21 other candidates covered by the suspension did not win. Only those who won and garnered a sufficient number of votes have had their proclamation halted due to this order of suspension,” explained Ausan.
The four candidates are from Iloilo province (two), Capiz (one), and Negros Occidental (one).
Ausan could not recall the specific positions for which the four winning candidates ran.
He said the four must await the Commission’s resolution or decision before being proclaimed. They cannot assume office until proclaimed.
Proclamation, oath of office, and filing of Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), with a deadline of on or before Nov. 29, are the three requirements set by Comelec.
Earlier this week, Police Regional Office 6 data revealed the 25 candidates’ details:
* Capiz: one village chief candidate – denied due course or COC cancellation
* Iloilo City: one village chief candidate – nuisance case
* Iloilo province: six candidates – five village chiefs and one SK chairperson, facing denial of due course or COC cancellation and disqualification
* Negros Occidental: 17 candidates – two village chiefs, seven barangay councilors, one SK chairperson, and seven SK councilors; all with disqualification cases
Comelec chairperson George Garcia’s memorandum stated, “The Commission resolved to suspend the proclamation of respondents with pending petitions to deny due course, cancel COCs, declare a nuisance candidate, or disqualify them until further orders from the Commission.”
The poll body reiterated its policy under Section 600 of Comelec Resolution Number 10924, allowing presiding commissioners of each division and the chairman to suspend the proclamation of candidates with pending cases.
It also directed the Deputy Executive Director for Operations to immediately inform the concerned Election Officers and Barangay Board of Canvassers (BBOC) about the suspension orders.
The Office of the Clerk of the Commission was tasked to notify the candidates and provide them with the suspension orders. The Office of the Election Officer is to monitor the BBOC’s implementation of these orders./PN
