Comelec shortens youth election period

Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday reset the start of the election period for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls to Feb. 6, moving it back 15 days from the original start date of Jan. 22.

Comelec Resolution No. 9928 amended the poll period to Feb. 6 up to March 2, from the original Jan. 22 to March 2. The youth council election is set for Feb. 21.

Likewise, the gun ban and other prohibitions related to the election period will begin on Feb. 6.

In a press briefing, Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr said the decision to reset the poll period was made following recent developments indicating the possible postponement of the youth council elections by Congress.

Brillantes said the Comelec wanted the SK polls postponed so as not to hamper the preparations for the 2016 national elections, among other reasons.

In a previous interview, Brillantes had proposed that the SK elections be synchronized with the next barangay elections.

The SK polls were originally set for October 2013 but were postponed by Congress to February 2015 to give lawmakers time to legislate reforms in the much-politicized and graft-tainted youth council.