Post-elections, Comelec finds 26 overaged SK bets in Northern Mindanao

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Northern Mindanao has found 26 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates in the region who were overaged for their posts, a day after the elections.

Candidates for the village-based youth councils should not be older than 24 years on election day, which fell on May 14 this year. 

Comelec Region X Director Renato Magbutay on Tuesday, May 15, said that should these candidates turn out to have won, their proclamation would be suspended. 

“If they are already proclaimed, there will be suspension of the effect of their proclamation,” Magbutay added. 

• Cagayan de Oro – 12 winners 
• Misamis Oriental – 9 winners
• Bukidnon – 1 winner
• Misamis Occidental – 4 winners

On Tuesday afternoon, a winning candidate for SK councilor in Cagayan de Oro went to the regional Comelec office to file a complaint, saying she was already proclaimed Monday night, ahead of the disqualification notice. 

During the period for filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) in any elections, it is ministerial for the Comelec to accept all submissions, before it will look into whether the candidates meet the requirements for the positions they are running for. 

Magbutay said election officers had explained the rules to candidates that they cannot be more than 24 years on election day. 

He said Comelec Northern Mindanao reported to the central office the names of overaged SK candidates before election day. They got a resolution on the matter from the Comelec en banc only on Tuesday, May 15, at 1 am. 

During a press briefing in Manila on Monday at 1 pm, the poll body said it was looking into a total of about 4,000 disqualification cases against barangay and SK candidates. By 7 pm, the Comelec announced it had suspended the proclamation of 639 candidates. (READ: Comelec won’t proclaim winning but unqualified barangay, SK bets) – Rappler.com