The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will require all candidates in the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to submit a sworn declaration of conflict of interest along with their certificates of candidacy (COCs).
The new requirement, announced Tuesday, stems from a proposal by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who urged the poll body to require candidates to disclose under oath any personal, financial, business or other interests that could affect the impartial performance of their duties if elected.
Comelec said the policy aims to promote integrity and transparency by requiring candidates to disclose interests that may influence their official decisions and discourage the concealment of potential conflicts of interest.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the sworn declaration will serve as an additional documentary requirement and will not constitute a new qualification for elective office.
Remulla said the measure could strengthen accountability among candidates, warning that those who knowingly submit false declarations under oath may face disqualification and other legal consequences under existing laws.
Comelec is expected to issue the implementing guidelines and the prescribed format for the sworn declaration before the filing of COCs for the 2026 BSKE.