With several Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates running unopposed, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) officials reiterate that uncontested candidates are not automatically proclaimed as winners.
“The law defines a winner as the candidate who obtained highest number of votes. One being higher than zero, that is all an unopposed candidate needs to win,” Comelec Provincial Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde said.
Some of the notable unopposed bets are Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) Cebu President Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, who seeks reelection as village chief of Barangay Cayang in Bogo City, and former Samboan mayor Raymond Calderon, who seeks to be elected as Barangay Poblacion captain in Samboan town.
Officer-in-charge Carla Espina of COMELEC Bogo City said that Martinez will be officially be considered as winner of the barangay polls once the board of canvassers makes the proclamation.