MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) approved including a sworn declaration on conflict of interest in certificates of candidacy (CoC).
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said this would apply starting with the filing of CoCs later this year for the Nov. 2, 2026 barangay (village) and sangguniang kabataan (your council) elections.
In a memorandum dated Aug. 4, 2026, Director IV Consuelo Diola of the Office of the Secretary to the Commission informed Comelec Law Department Director IV Sittie Maimona Azisa G.L. Tawagon of the approval, during the July 24, 2026 referendum/consultation, of the department's recommendation about the inclusion of the sworn declaration, as follows:
"I undertake, once elected, to comply with the provisions on conflict of interest under Republic Act Nos. 3019 and 6713, particularly as to the prohibition on having direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract, or transaction that may be opposed to or affected by the faithful performance of official duty, or in which I am prohibited by the Constitution or ang law from having any interest."
