BY GERARD NAVAL and VICTOR REYES
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday urged all registered voters to come out and vote in today’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), which it said is already long overdue.
In a press briefing in Abra, Comelec chairman George Garcia assured the public that the poll body is 100 percent prepared to conduct the barangay and youth elections, which was originally scheduled back in May 2020.
“We have been preparing for so long. This has been postponed several times now. It is already getting tiresome. Tomorrow will be our opportunity, so let us not waste our chance to vote,” said Garcia, adding: “All our preparations will be for nothing if you don’t go to your polling precincts to vote.”
The last barangay and SK elections was held in 2018 with the subsequent barangay and youth polls set on May 2020. However, the polls were postponed from May 2020 to December 2022, and again from December 2022 to October 2023.
Nearly 325,000 government troops have been deployed nationwide to secure the elections.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said some 187,600 policemen are already in position, and support forces are on standby for deployment if the need arises.
“The PNP’s highest alert was already raised, we’ve upgraded to full alert,” said Fajardo. The PNP raised the nationwide full alert status last Saturday.
Armed Forces spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said some 117,000 soldiers have been deployed to secure the elections.
“We are ready for the election… our focus is on the election areas of concern, the 361 (areas) identified by the JPSCC (Joint Peace and Security Center),” said Aguilar.
As to the instruction of AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr, Aguilar said: “To support Comelec, make available our assets as soon as possible and to make sure that we will have a secured, free, orderly conduct of election.”
AFP Public Information Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the military declared its highest alert status last Friday principally for the elections.
“In view of the BSKE, the AFP is placed on red alert status effective 27 October 2023 (Friday),” said Trinidad.
“All units on the ground are also directed to place on standby appropriate contingency force in coordination with Comelec and the PNP for the safe, orderly, and peaceful election,” he also said.
On the other hand, Philippine Coast Guard commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said: “We have deployed many of our personnel. There will be more or less 20,000 personnel who are subject of our deployment.”
Gavan said Coast Guard personnel will be complemented by K9 units.
The PCG went on heightened alert as early as Wednesday last week in connection with the elections and in anticipation of the influx of passengers at the ports during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
“Soldiers, policemen and Coast Guard personnel are working together, including in the manning of checkpoints (to ensure peaceful elections),” said Gavan.
AREAS OF CONCERN, COMELEC CONTROL
The Comelec said 361 barangays in the country are under the “red” category of election areas of concern, while 1,271 and 1,199 barangays are under the “orange” and “yellow” categories, respectively.
On the other hand, 39,170 barangays are classified under the “green” category.
Under the Comelec classification, green areas are places with no security concerns or is relatively peaceful and orderly.
Considered as yellow areas are those with occurrence of suspected election-related incidents in the last two elections provided there was no participation of domestic terror groups, existence of intense partisan political rivalry with no participation of domestic terror groups, possible employment of partisan armed groups by candidates in the area, occurrence of politically motivated incidents in the current election period provided there is no participation of domestic terror groups, or the area has been previously declared under Comelec control.
Classified under orange category are those with a combination of two or more factors under category yellow, or there are serious armed threats posed by communist terrorist groups, and other analogous threat groups declared by competent authority.
As for the red category, the Comelec said these are areas with existence of one or more factors described under category yellow, with serious armed threats posed by communist terrorist groups and other analogous threat groups declared by competent authority under category orange, or declaration by other government agencies concerned that one of the grounds for the declaration of Comelec control exists.
On the other hand, the Comelec has placed under its control the province of Negros Oriental and Libon, Albay.
Negros Oriental was placed under Comelec control due to previous violent incidents in the province, topped by the assassination of the late Gov. Roel Degamo last March.
On the other hand, Lisbon in Albay was placed under Comelec control following the killing of a candidate for barangay chairman and an incumbent barangay kagawad in the same barangay just a week apart, as well as the presence of private armed groups in the area.
Fajardo said PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr was in Abra on Sunday to attend to some security concerns, which forced some candidates to withdraw their candidacy.
“The situation in Abra remains manageable but we are not going to be complacent. That is why our chief PNP himself went there to give the people of Abra the sense of security, to show that the PNP is in control of the situation there,” Fajardo said.
Fajardo said the PNP is confident the turnout of the election will be peaceful with the cooperation of various stakeholders.
“That is our prayer. For a long time now, we’ve been preparing (for the elections). We have taken into considerations all possible risk factors which we think may influence the election, and we have addressed all these,” said Fajardo.
LOOSE FIREARMS
“We have also established Comelec checkpoints because our intention is to intercept (loose firearms) and minimize the proliferation of instruments of violence,” Fajardo also said.
Fajardo said 1,992 individuals have been arrested so far and 1,454 firearms have been seized in relation to the implementation of the election gun ban,
She said 2,325 firearms were deposited to the PNP for safekeeping and 1,683 other firearms were surrendered to the police.
Likewise, Fajardo reported that there are already 30 confirmed election-related incidents (ERIs) as of last Saturday.
These incidents were among the 151 suspected ERIs reported since the election period began last August 28.
Only 30 of these incidents have been confirmed to be election-related, 88 were found to be not related to the polls, while the rest of the 33 are still classified as suspected ERIs as they are still undergoing validation process.
Aguilar said the military is “confident and we will do our best to make sure that it (election) will be secured, free, orderly conduct of election,” adding that the military is not foreseeing any major challenges during the elections.
Trinidad, who is also the Army spokesman, said most of the troops that the Armed Forces deployed for the elections came from the Philippine Army, which he said has also committed many of its vehicles and communication system for the election.
As to the challenges, Trinidad said Army soldiers cannot cover all the communities and polling places.
“That is why we try to prioritize by identifying (areas of concern), there will be preponderance of augmentation troops in these areas,” he said.
VISAYAS
The AFP Visayas Command (Viscom) said some 17,436 soldiers will be securing the election in the entire Visayas, while another 1,620 soldiers organized as Quick Reaction Forces are ready to be deployed where they are needed.
Viscom said six aircraft and three ships have also been put on standby in strategic areas from where they can be mobilized “in case of any eventualities that may occur.”
“We are committed and highly motivated to accomplish our mandate of ensuring a safe, peaceful, and orderly Barangay and SK Elections in the Visayas region,” said Viscom commander Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo.
Arevalo said the military “cannot and will not allow” the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army or other threat groups to “disrupt the electoral process and sow terror to our people.”
“We want our people to exercise their rights freely, for them to choose a leader who can lead them to a better way of life,” said Arevalo.
Likewise, Arevalo said a Blackhawk helicopter and a Bell helicopter have been deployed in Negros Oriental for the election.
There are currently 2,719 soldiers in the province, of which 1,394 troops will be performing election-related duties, including manning of checkpoints and securing polling centers and transportation of election paraphernalia.
“The deployment of the two air assets in Negros Oriental is part of our contingency in case any hostile incidents may occur, especially during transport of the election returns after the voting period,” Arevalo said.
“These air assets aim to provide immediate close air support to our ground troops who will respond to these incidents,” he added.
Arevalo said the military “don’t want to take any chances” in Negros Oriental, thus the deployment of the large number of troops and the two helicopters.
“We know that the peace and order situation in Negros Oriental is now stable and very much under control by the government. We just want the people to feel safe and secure as they cast their votes and ensure that the upcoming electoral process will be successful,” he added.
MAGUINDANAO SCHOOLS
Meanwhile, Garcia said in a press conference in Abra that the fire incidents that hit two schools in Barangays Ruminimbang in Barira and Dalican Poblacion in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte last Saturday were cases of arson that were deliberately done to prevent the conduct of the BSKE in the two barangays.
“The fire incidents in Datu Ondin Sinsuat and Barira are confirmed as arsons, and, therefore, done intentionally. You can see that the gasoline cans used to burn the four classrooms in Barira and two rooms in Datu Odin Sinsuat were still there,” said Garcia.
“It is quite obvious that the purpose is to prevent voters from voting. Maybe they want to disenfranchise voters or have the voting center transferred,” he added.
The two schools were set to be used as voting centers in today’s BSKE in Maguindanao del Norte.
Despite the fire, the poll chief said the two voting centers will not be transferred.
“If we transfer the voting centers because of the fire-hit classrooms, they will just continue committing arson,” he said, stressing: “We need to show them that we won’t get terrorized. We will proceed with the election at all costs in these areas.”
Garcia said the classrooms that were set on fire were not set to be used as polling precincts.
Garcia said this was ascertained by no less than their Election Officers in Datu Ondin Sinsuat and Barira.
“Those burnt classrooms are wrong. The elections won’t be held in those classrooms. The instructions given to them were wrong. This means that the voters assigned to vote there will still vote in the same polling places,” he said.
NON-PARTISAN
Fajardo said Acorda has reminded all police officers to not engage in politics: “We should remain apolitical, we should remain non-partisan and (we should) extend all possible assistance during the election.”
Fajardo said policemen will be near the polling centers, ready to address any security concerns while people are casting their votes.
She said Acorda is also appealing to the public to immediately report to the police incidents of election fraud, including vote-buying and vote-selling.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido urged Army soldiers to be non-partisan during the elections.
“The call of the Army’s commanding general… to our soldiers is you should always be non-partisan during the election and make sure that there will be safe, secured and orderly election,” said Trinidad.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr urged Filipinos to exercise their right to vote during the BSKE.
“Let’s not take this right for granted. Instead, let’s take this as an opportunity to further improve our government, starting from its most basic unit, our barangays and our youth leaders,” said Brawner in a statement.
“We hope that you will heed this call and flock to your voting centers. A lot is at stake on your decision these coming elections. May God bless your votes,” said Brawner.
BARANGAY, SK POLLS
The Comelec said 67,839,861 barangay voters and 23,254,961 SK voters are expected to cast their votes, with 21,420,550 set to be given two ballots each, one for the barangay and one for the SK.
On the other hand, 672,016 positions will be up for grabs, composed of 42,001 barangay chairmen; 294,007 barangay council members; 42,001 SK chairpersons; and 294,007 SK council members.
“It may just be the BSKE. But these are important positions as they are at the frontliners to every problem and issues that needs fixing in the barangay,” said Garcia.
“We are hoping that the turnout will be higher than the 70 percent in 2018. Again, we hope that all our countrymen will come out and vote tomorrow,” he added.
Garcia said voters can use the Precinct Finder system before heading out to vote. Voters may access the system via precinctfinder.comelec.gov.ph/voter_precinct.
Garcia also urged the voters to vote correctly for their barangay and/or SK leaders.
“On who are the right candidates, that is already up to your heart and conscience,” he said.
AUTOMATED POLLS
Voting hours is set from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the 37,341 voting centers housing the 201,793 clustered precincts.
The “Early Voting Hours” from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. for persons with disability (PWDs), senior citizens (SC), and heavily pregnant voters shall be pilot tested in Naga City and Muntinlupa City.
The Comelec said the counting and canvassing of votes, and proclamation of winning candidates are expected immediately after closing of polls.
Mall voting is also set for pilot testing in several malls in the country today. Participating SM malls are SM Manila (Barangay 659, Manila 5th District), SM Sucat (Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City 1st District), SM North EDSA (Barangay Alicia, Quezon City 1st District), SM Legaspi (Barangay 36 Kapantawan, Legaspi City), and SM Consolacion Cebu (Barangay Pitogo, Consolacion, Cebu).
On the other hand, Robinsons malls where voters can cast their votes are Robinsons Magnolia (Barangay Horseshoe, Quezon City 4th District), Robinsons Las Piñas (Barangay Talon Tres, Las Piñas City), Robinsons Ermita (Barangay 668, Manila 5th District), Robinsons Metro East (Barangay Dela Paz, Pasig City 2nd District), and Robinsons Cebu (Barangay Parian, Cebu City).
While the BSKE will use the manual system of voting, the Comelec is pilot testing the automated election system (AES) in Dasmariñas City in Cavite and Quezon City.
It said 46,825 barangay voters and 13,941 SK voters are set to use the AES in Barangay Pasong Tamo in the 6th District of Quezon City, while 39,340 barangay voters and 13,570 SK voters will be using the voting machines in Barangays Zone II Poblacion and Paliparan III in Dasmariñas City, Cavite.
PPCRV VOLUNTEERS
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said 100,000 to 300,000 volunteers will be deployed across the country to safeguard the integrity of today’s electoral exercise, PPCRV spokesperson Ana Singson said.
Singson said they have given directives to their volunteers not to simply stay in one area of the voting centers, where they are deployed, but to “be vigilant and alert, and always do roving patrols across polling centers in their areas.”
The Comelec accredited the PPCRV last year as its citizens arm for all electoral exercises to be held before the May 2025 midterm polls.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Educational Association of Philippines (CEAP) called on all qualified personnel and students to cast their votes.
In a two-page statement, CEAP President Fr Albert Delvo urged all Catholic school students, faculty, staff, administrators, and other stakeholders to exercise their right to vote during today’s polls.
“We firmly believe social and political transformation can only begin in the barangay and can gain traction when initiated by the youth,” said Delvo.
“Casting our votes, ensuring clean and honest elections, and engaging in good governance are concrete responses to the call to participate in transformative action,” he added.
“If we are to meddle, it must begin in the barangay. When barangay leaders and their constituents uphold the common good, the nation will consist of villages striving for social transformation,” said the CEAP head.
CEAP also urged everyone to support the campaign of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against vote buying to ensure the integrity of the elections.
“We have at our disposal phones that can document the proceedings. We have access to local and national media outlets that can amplify our reports. Citizen action will not be undermined if we do our part,” said Delvo.
The Rizal Provincial Police Office (PPO) said it is investigating reports of vote buying in Jalajala, Rizal last Friday night.
Col. Felipe Maraggun, Rizal PPO director, said the incident supposedly occurred on October 27 at around 8:45 p.m.
He said a tipster informed the police that supporters of a candidate for barangay kagawad distributed election paraphernalia containing P2,000 cash for each voter. — With Christian Oineza
