Comelec to screen COCs with ‘brute force’ – poll body exec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will apply “brute force” in screening all filed certificates of candidacies (COCs) for the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said during the regular Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum that the poll body is mandated to finish their review of the COCs within two weeks, and soon come up with the official list of candidates.

“Brute force. Mamanuhin iyan isa-isa,” Jimenez noted when asked how the agency would screen all COCs.

“Kailangan po matapos natin iyan within two weeks, kasi kung lalabas ang official na listahan, iyon ang magiging basehan para malaman kung sino ang tatakbo,” Jimenez also said.

According to Jimenez, there were at least 600,000 positions in village and SK councils that need to be filled up via the upcoming elections on May 14.

However, as of Wednesday morning, the Comelec spokesman said there were only more than a hundred thousand COCs filed with the poll agency.

“(There were already) more than a hundred thousand filers. That’s small, considering na ‘yung available positions ay (marami), that’s 611,168 positions,” Jimenez said.

“Bagamat sinasabi natin na hindi naman exactly naging matumal ‘yung pagfa-file since Saturday (April 14), marami pang idadagdag sa tatlong araw,” he added.

In screening the COCs, Jimenez said that all applications would be forwarded to the Comelec central office in Intramuros, Manila where election officers will conduct the vetting process on candidates.

Complaints from the public would also be welcome at the Comelec central office should anyone contest the eligibility of any candidate vying for a local post.

“Mayroon tayong titignan, kung baka ‘yung finile na certificate of candidacy ay kulang (ang requirement), or kung mayroong mali sa certificate of candidacy. (Titignan din iyong) mga third-termer,” Jimenez explained.

“Mayroon tayong information about sa third-termers. At the same time, tumatanggap din tayo ng mga reklamo ng publiko tungkol sa eligibility ng mga nag-file ng application,” the Comelec official also said.

Eduardo Año, officer in charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), earlier reminded candidates that the Local Government Code prohibits any local elective official from serving more than three consecutive terms in the same position.

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DILG data showed there are 8,927 third-termer barangay chairpersons, and 51,273 third-termer barangay council members.

The Comelec has set the deadline for filing of the COCs until Friday, April 20. /kga