Can an 18-year-old who is qualified for an elective barangay post also seek for a post in the Sangguniang Kabataan or vice versa?
In the recent election forum organized by the Commission on Elections Information and Education Department (IED), representative Frances Andrea Alonzo said while the SK Reform Act has amended the age of those qualified to run for the SK, aspirants for SK or barangay posts cannot run for two posts at the same time.
Age requirement for SK is between 18 to 24 years old on the day of election while candidates for punong barangay or kagawad should be at least 18 years old.
Alonzo said an aspiring candidate should choose only one post, otherwise this can lead to disqualification of the candidate in both posts aspired for.
City Election Officer John Paul Martin said this is why Comelec-Baguio has scheduled a clustered filing of COC to give time for their personnel to check the forms.
Qualifications for SK are also more stringent compared to the qualifications for barangay such as: able to read and write in English, Filipino, and a local dialect; does not have an incumbent elected or appointed relative up to the second degree of affinity or consanguinity from the national to the grassroots level; and has not been sentenced by final conviction of any crime involving moral turpitude.
Those who will turn 24 years old and one day on election day are also disqualified from the SK elections.
Alonzo said those who are 18 to 24 years old are those who have been born on Oct. 30, 1999 to Oct. 30, 2005.
The Comelec is conducting an IEC about the 2023 BSKE to remind and update voters about amendments in election laws and reforms in the voting process.
In the 2023 BSKE, automated elections will be piloted in barangays Paliparan 3 and Zone 2 Poblacion, both in Dasmariñas, Cavite; and Pasong Tamo, Quezon City; mall voting will be allowed for the first time at select areas, voting age of SK candidates has been amended, and implementation of the anti-political dynasty provision through the SK elections. – Rimaliza A. Opiña
