By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Commission on Elections (Comelec) election supervisor, Atty. Jessie Suarez, recently clarified, barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates are prohibited from joining political parties.

In an interview with Watchmen Daily Journal, Suarez said they have yet to receive any complaints regarding candidates with party affiliations.

The elections official explained, “It’s embodied in the [Certificate of Candidacy], that they should not be a member of any political parties.”

He added, with some barangay officials reportedly present during PDP-Laban road shows a few months ago, the same individuals who have sworn an oath with the ruling party are currently running in the May 14 polls.

Suarez noted, another reason why they may have not received any objections is because of the P10,100 fee associated with filing a complaint, which can only be filed before election supervisors within the locality./DGB, WDJ