The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said it will appeal the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision directing the poll body to conduct another Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on December 5, 2025, compelling the Comelec to hold two elections in two years.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the en banc is preparing to file a motion for reconsideration on the decision of the High Court which ruled that the next BSKE after the October 2023 polls shall be held in 2025.
The motion for reconsideration is expected to be filed after the Comelec receives the full copy of the Supreme Court decision, he said.
The SC, in its decision, declared unconstitutional the previous postponement of the BSKE and ordered another village polls to be set on the first Monday of December 2025. But for that year, the poll body has only been preparing for the midterm polls and has planned on introducing a new system and new automated counting machines.
Since they would have to prepare for two elections, the commission has to plan carefully how it would execute the preparations and conduct of these suffrage exercises, the official said.
“But because of the SC’s decision, it seems that there would be an additional budget and there should be a decision on whether the BSKE 2025 would be automated. Of course, this would entail additional cost,” he added.
The Comelec meanwhile said it will withhold the salaries and benefits of officers and employees who have unliquidated cash advances in 2022.
Garcia issued the statement after receiving reports from the Commission on Audit (COA) that the poll regulator had P2 billion in unliquidated cash advances in 2022.
“The Commission en banc passed a resolution on the withholding of salaries and benefits of personnel until they have liquidated their cash advances,” Garcia said.
“In fact, it includes all other actions even including filing of criminal cases against individuals who will not properly liquidate,” he added.
Garcia confirmed the COA report but said that the unliquidated advances had gone down to P717,154,871.57 as of July 12, 2023.
Garcia assured the COA that the remaining amount to be fully liquidated will be settled and accounted for in the soonest possible time.
Of the P2.1 billion in unliquidated cash advances, P2.089 billion was granted in 2022. Of the amount, P1.9 billion was for Comelec Special Disbursing Officers and P188.9 million for Comelec officers and employees.
Garcia said that the liquidation of cash advances is a continuing administrative process.
The Comelec assured that it is working for “full liquidation, or otherwise settle and account the remaining amount” as soon as possible.
The Comelec chief made mention of this as he emphasized that the poll body is seeking full accountability under the new leadership.
Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco confirmed that all remaining unliquidated advances will be settled as soon as possible amounting to more than P717 million.
“With closer coordination with the Commission on Audit, all that remains to be settled in the said unliquidated cash advances, as of July 12, 2023, is the amount of P717,154,871.57,” Laudiangco added.