BACOLOD City – Supporters who will accompany aspirants for the October barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) are not allowed to enter Robinson’s Place Bacolod, the only site where the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in this city will receive certificates of candidacy (COC), before the mall hours.
City Comelec officer Kathrina Trinio-Caña said they would start accepting COCs at 8 a.m. from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2.
The officer observed that it had been a practice of some candidates to be accompanied and cheered on by their supporters.
The agency’s office on San Juan Street in Barangay 12 will not accept COCs.
Due to the limited space, the Comelec needed to change the venue to accommodate all applicants.
Caña reminded everyone to obey Comelec rules during the election period, which also begins today.
Prohibited acts during the election period include bearing, carrying, or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park, private vehicle, or public conveyance, or even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized in writing.
She emphasized that the campaign period is strictly from Oct. 19 to 28, and premature campaigning could be grounds for disqualification./PN
