Comelec suspends barangay, SK polls in Marawi

Paterno R. Esmaquel II

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Comelec suspends barangay, SK polls in Marawi
The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in the rest of Mindanao 'will push through as scheduled,' says Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) decided on Wednesday, January 31, to suspend the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in strife-torn Marawi City.

The barangay and SK elections (BSKE2018) in the rest of Mindanao “will push through as scheduled,” Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said. 

“The commission en banc today resolved to suspend the conduct of the BSKE2018 only in Marawi City. The BSKE2018 in the rest of Mindanao will push through as scheduled, with the exception of Marawi City, owing to the prevailing conditions in that city,” Jimenez said.

Marawi is the site of a 5-month siege between government forces and terrorists, killing 168 government troops, mostly soldiers. 

Jimenez said that after 3 months, the Comelec “will reassess the suspension” of the barangay and SK polls in Marawi City. This will determine whether the Comelec can proceed with the elections.

The barangay and SK elections throughout the country had already been postponed to May 14 this year, from the original schedule of October 23, 2017. 

The poll body, however, considered another postponement for Mindanao after Congress extended martial law in the island group to the end of 2018. 

The Comelec explained that based on the Omnibus Election Code, it may “postpone elections in a particular location, after due notice and hearing therein, when the holding of free, orderly and honest elections should become impossible due to any serious cause such as violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, and other analogous causes of such nature.” – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Avatar photo

author

Paterno R. Esmaquel II

Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He finished MA Journalism in Ateneo and MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email pat.esmaquel@rappler.com