Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Mountain Province has issued a crucial advisory to Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates, emphasizing the necessity of meticulously completing forms to prevent the invalidation of their candidacies. As the filing period for the upcoming barangay and SK elections is set for September 28 to October 5, candidates are urged to prepare their documentation early.

According to Philippines News Agency, Provincial Election Supervisor John Paul Martin highlighted that, as per Comelec Resolution No. 11196, certificates of candidacy (COCs) lacking complete information will be rejected. Martin encouraged candidates to download and prepare their forms ahead of time to avoid last-minute complications. "We are making the filing process easier for you. Avoid the rush and the hassle by downloading and preparing your forms early. Under the new rules, incomplete COCs will not be accepted, so every document counts," he stated.

Candidates are required to submit several key documents, including a birth certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority or local civil registry to verify that they are between 18 and 24 years old on election day. Additionally, a PHP30 documentary stamp tax should be attached to the original COC, along with a passport-size photo that was taken within the last six months. Martin reminded candidates, "Remember, once you filed your COC, you are officially considered a candidate. All election laws and prohibitions apply to you immediately."

The designated campaign period is scheduled from October 22 to October 31. Furthermore, Republic Act 12232 has set the Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) on the first Monday of November 2026.