Comelec halts proclamation of 25 candidates in Western Visayas

The Commission on Elections ordered on Monday the suspension of the proclamation of 25 aspirants in Western Visayas on various grounds in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

According to Regional Elections Director Dennis Ausan, the aspirants already knew they had pending cases.

"They know that they have pending cases. Our suspension order was served to our Board of Barangay Canvassers in the event these respondents win, they should not be proclaimed because of that suspension order," Ausan said in an interview on Monday.

Data provided by the Comelec to the Police Regional Office 6 of Western Visayas showed that about 21 petitions for disqualification have been filed, three for being denied due process or having their certificate of candidacy revoked, and one for a nuisance candidate.

Police Regional Office 6 Brig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor stated during a press conference that he has already instructed all provincial and city directors to take the necessary action.

"I gave the orders to different provincial directors to assess the situation on the ground on how we are going to deal with the situation," he said.

About five punong barangay candidates from Iloilo province, two from Negros Occidental, one each from Capiz and Iloilo City, two SK chairpersons from Negros Occidental and Iloilo province, seven barangay kagawad, and seven SK kagawad from Negros Occidental made up the respondents.

Iloilo City Elections Assistant II Jonathan Sayno stated in an interview that the suspension of the proclamation was served to respondent Mark Winston Maloto on the grounds of being a nuisance candidate.

Sayno reported that petitioner Jose Martin Maloto stated that Mark Winston only caused confusion by running in Barangay San Juan, Molo, along with three other candidates who have the same family name.