Comelec postpones elections of representatives in South Cotabato’s first district

MANILA, Philippines — Elections for the first district of South Cotabato scheduled on May 13, 2019 will be postponed, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

In Comelec resolution no. 105245 dated April 11, the poll body said elections were suspended due to the new law which made General Santos City the third legislative district of Cotabato.

“The present configuration can no longer be revised or modified in time for the May 13, 2019 national and local elections, without jeopardizing the preparations for the election of other positions,” the resolution stated.

“The commission suspends the election of Representatives for the First Legislative District, including General Santos City, in the province of Cotabato, scheduled on May 13, 2019,” it added.

Comelec was referring to Republic Act No. 11243, which reapportioned the First Legislative of the Province of South Cotabato, thereby creating the Lone Legislative District of General Santos City.

The poll body said that with the new configuration in South Cotabato, they will have operational and logistical constraints such as “filing of certificates of candidacy for the newly created legislative districts, finalization of the list of candidates and ballot face, and printing of ballots.”

It said it will set the first regular election for the new representatives of the first and third legislative districts of South Cotabato within six months from May 13, 2019.

Before President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law, General Santos City, was an independent and highly urbanized locality and was part of the province’s first district.

However, with the approval of the law, the city will now represent the province’s third legislative district. /ee

READ: Duterte signs law making GenSan a separate legislative district