Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo today disclosed that more than 4,000 incumbent barangay captains or punong barangays in the country are serving their third consecutive term, thus disqualified to run for the same position in the coming October 25 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Robredo said the Department will post on its website as well as the websites of DILG regional offices the list of incumbent punong barangays who are already on their third or even fourth consecutive term and are ineligible to run for the same post this elections. The term of office of incumbent barangay officials ends November 30 this year.
We will make full use of our DILG website to disclose to and inform the general public, most especially the barangay electorate, on who among the current crop of barangay officials are no longer eligible to run as they have already reached the term limit imposed by law,” he said.
Section 2 of Republic Act 9164 or An Act Providing for the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, Amending RA 7160 clearly provides that no barangay elective officials shall serve for more than three consecutive terms. The same provision also states that voluntary renunciation of office shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which the elective official was elected.
At the same time, he has also instructed all DILG and field officials to furnish the local Comelec offices with the list of 3 termer PBs in their respective jurisdiction for the poll body's reference or appropriate action.
Citing records from the Department’s National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO), Robredo said that a total of 4,433 punong barangays in the country are no longer eligible to run in the coming polls as they are already over the term limit set forth by law. Of the number, 4,410 are on their third term, and the remaining; 23 are on their fourth term.
Robredo said that 14 of the barangay chairs who are on their fourth terms came from the National Capital Region, particularly in Caloocan City, three are from Region X, two each from Region 2 and CAR, and one each for MIMAROPA and Region XI.
On the other hand, Calabarzon has the highest number of third termers with 499; followed by Western Visayas with 460; Eastern Visayas, 431; Bicol Region, 360; and Ilocos Region, 342.
Meanwhile, Robredo urged candidates to file their certificates of candidacy (COC) early. Candidates may file their COCs from October 1 to 13, this year, at the Office of the Election Officer in their respective cities and municipalities. Elections of one punong barangay, one SK chairman, seven sangguniang barangay members and seven SK members for every barangay will be held October 25 this year to fill the 672,400 elective posts in 42,025 barangays in the country. ###
List of Punong Barangays Who are Serving Three (3) Consecutive Terms in Office by Region:
Note: If there are discrepancies or questions on the list, please check or coordinate with the concerned regional office.
1. Cordillera Administrative Region
2. National Capital Region
3. Region I
4. Region II
5. Region III
6. Region IV – A
7. Region IV – B
8. Region V
9. Region VI
10. Region VII
11. Region VIII
12. Region IX
13. Region X
14. Region XI
15. Region XII
16. Region XIII
