Comelec reminds everyone; Barangay polls not a popularity contest

Jimenez also reminded voters that the barangay and SK elections are not popularity contests.

Instead of voting for candidates who can sing and dance, he said voters should go for literate bets.

“Mahirap ang ganyan. Hindi lahat ng gawain sa barangay ay nadadaan sa kantahan, mahalagang papel ang ginagampanan nila… Kung ang barangay mediation courts natin ay pinapatakbo ng taong hindi marunong bumasa at sumulat ay baka mahirapan po siya,” Jimenez said.

He said Filipino voters tend to treat barangay elections as a “community past-time.” He reminded voters that the barangay election is an important part of democracy that should not be toyed with.

Jimenez added that the law also requires a barangay candidate to be literate at least in Filipino or any local language.

He said several illiterate candidates were able to win the barangay elections, without facing disqualification cases, because no one filed complaints against them.

“Kung no read, no write, kailangan iharap sa disqualification proceedings,” he said.

Jimenez admitted that illiterate candidates are able to file their certificates of candidacy (COC) because of neglect of some election officers.

He asked for local watchdogs to spot illiterate candidates and file complaints against the candidate before the local Comelec office.

The filing of COCs for the October 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections started Friday.

Ex-boxer, ‘Freddie Aguilar’ file COCs

Emil Aguilar de Guzman, a Freddie Aguilar-look alike was among those who trooped to Comelec offices on the first day of the filing of COCs.

De Guzman said it will be his first time to run for office. Aside from ensuring peace and order, he said he wants to clean up Barangay Pasong Putik in Quezon City.

Gonzalo Briones, a 78-year-old former boxer, also filed his COC. Despite his age, he believes he can still do a lot for his community.

Briones boasted that he can run faster than anybody else. “Mas mabilis pa akong tumakbo kumpara sa iba.”

Another senior, Bernardito Apurillo, also thinks he’s still got it in him and can lead Barangay Payatas as its chairman.

One thing he said that makes him the right candidate is his strength.

There are more than 50 million registered voters in more than 40,000 barangays all over the country.

In the coming days, more candidates are expected to file their COCs before the deadline on October 13. — with a report from Niña Corpuz, ABS-CBN News

Oh, guys, it’s still gun ban, okay?:)