BANGUED, Abra (PIA) -- The Commission on Election (COMELEC) here warns of rejection of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) of unqualified aspirants for the upcoming 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Mae Richelle Belmes explained that under COMELEC Resolution 10924 or the ‘General Guidelines and other Related Rules for the October 30, 2023 BSKE and All Succeeding BSKEs Thereafter,’ the COMELEC can reject COCs on two grounds.

“Ngayon ang trabaho na ni COMELEC ay discretionary hindi na lang ministerial. On these two grounds, hindi sya registered voter at tsaka hindi sya qualified sa age, pwede naming i-reject outright,” she explained.

Resolution 10924 states that the receiving officer will not accept the COC of an aspirant who is not a registered voter and not a qualified voter of the Katipunan ng Kabataan based on the list of the Election Officer; and a candidate is not qualified for the age required for the position.

This came after age disqualification cases especially for Sangguniang Kabataan candidates during the 2018 BSKE.

Aspiring punong barangays and members should be at least 18 years old on election day while SK chairpersons and members should be at least 18 years old and not more than 24 years old during election day.

“If we reject their COC, they have their remedy. Mag-petition sila sa COMELEC Manila, yun na ‘yung remedy nila,” Belmes said.

The filing of COCs will be from August 28 until September 2, 2023.(JDP/JJPM-PIA CAR, Abra)