BACOLOD City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental has declared that preparations for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on November 2 are on track, assuring the public that there are no legal obstacles that would prevent the polls from pushing through as scheduled.
Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said on Tuesday, July 28, election preparations have been proceeding without interruption, citing existing laws that require the conduct of the barangay and youth elections.
Ananoria said the provincial office has already completed the verification of voter lists approved by the Comelec En Banc last week, while election officers throughout Negros Occidental are conducting inspections of polling centers to ensure their readiness.
He added that an inventory of the yellow ballot boxes to be used for manual voting and counting is also underway.
The election official clarified that voter registration will not reopen before the November 2 polls, noting that the next registration period will begin only after the BSKE.
Ananoria also reminded aspiring candidates that although Certificate of Candidacy (COC) forms are already available for download from the Comelec website, the official filing period is from September 28 to October 5, 2026.
Candidates for the Sangguniang Kabataan are likewise required to submit a Philippine Statistics Authority-issued birth certificate together with their COC.
His statement echoed earlier pronouncements by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla and Bacolod Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who both said the barangay and youth elections would proceed as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Ananoria warned aspiring candidates against engaging in premature campaigning, particularly on social media.
He emphasized that candidates are prohibited from campaigning immediately after filing their COCs on September 28 until October 21, as the official campaign period will run only from October 22 to October 31.
“We will strictly enforce rules against premature campaigning. I remind aspirants to ensure their strategies do not run afoul of election laws,” Ananoria said.
He noted that the Comelec had received numerous complaints involving early campaigning during previous elections, especially through online platforms, warning that violations could result in sanctions under election laws.
Ananoria cited previous BSKE cases in E.B. Magalona and Cauayan, where the proclamations of winning candidates were suspended due to election law violations, underscoring the commission’s commitment to strictly enforce campaign rules during this year’s elections. (WDJ)/PN
