Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 778)
The elected local officials covered include provincial governors, provincial vice-governors, city and municipal mayors, municipal district mayors, city and municipal vice-mayors, municipal district vice-mayors, and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panglungsod, and Sangguniang Bayan, including elective officials in Metropolitan Manila's cities and municipalities.
The election was scheduled to be held on January 30, 1980.
The candidate must be a Filipino citizen; a qualified voter; a resident of the locality for at least six months at the time of filing the certificate of candidacy; at least 21 years old on election day; able to read and write.
Disqualifications include retired officials who have received retirement benefits and are 65 or older at the start of the term seeking election to the same office, persons who committed acts of disloyalty such as subversion or rebellion, permanent residents or immigrants to a foreign country, and those who offer false testimony against candidates with penalties higher than those under the Revised Penal Code.
The Commission on Elections, upon verified petition and after due notice and hearing, shall call for the holding or continuation of the election as soon as practicable.
The campaign period starts on December 29, 1979, and ends on January 28, 1980.
Certificates must be filed in triplicate no later than January 4, 1980. Filing is done with the local election registrar for city and municipal offices or with the provincial election officer for provincial offices, but may also be filed directly with the Commission on Elections.
The provincial board of canvassers is composed of the provincial election officer or Commission representative as chairman, the provincial fiscal, and the division superintendent of schools as members.
No member or chairman of any board of canvassers may be related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any candidate in their jurisdiction.
The Commission exercises powers, jurisdiction, and duties granted by the Constitution and laws concerning the conduct of the local elections provided under this Act.