Campaign period for barangay, SK polls ends today

MANILA, Philippines — Candidates for the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) are expected to pull out all the stops as the 10-day campaign period winds down today, even as the Philippine National Police (PNP) has announced the deployment of additional police units in Abra.

In Manila, aspirants for barangay and SK chairpersons, as well as their respective kagawads or council members, visited Isla Puting Bato in Tondo district yesterday, eve of the last day of the campaign.

Reaching out to potential voters in the community, the candidates shook hands with people while loudspeakers blasted their campaign jingles.

In parts of Sampaloc, Sta. Cruz and Divisoria, aspirants and their supporters held motorcades. In Divisoria, candidates braved crowds and vehicular congestion to persuade voters.

Meanwhile, the Manila city government ordered a liquor ban starting Oct. 29 until Nov. 2 to ensure “orderly conduct of the BSKE and for the peaceful celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day” in Manila.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia reminded candidates to observe the end of the campaign period.

“On Sunday (tomorrow), campaigning is no longer allowed. We have one day to rest, to think it over with our countrymen on who to vote for,” Garcia said.

He stressed that Comelec will not cease from removing illegally posted campaign materials until Sunday. The liquor ban shall also be in force starting Sunday night until election day.

On election day, Garcia advised voters to bring a list of the candidates they will vote for but they cannot take pictures of the ballot. He added that voters are not required to bring identification cards.

More cops in Abra

At least 352 more police officers from elite units were deployed in Abra ahead of the BSKE, the PNP said yesterday.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda ordered the deployment of additional forces in Abra in response to reports of some 250 candidates withdrawing from the BSKE due to threats and intimidation.

Abra has always been under the PNP’s radar owing to a history of election-related violence.

“These are from various units, not necessarily from local, not from Abra,” Acorda said at a news briefing in Camp Crame.

He said the augmentation forces were pulled from the Special Action Force and the Reactionary Standby Support Forces.

Vote buying

On the last day of campaign for the BSKE, the Comelec warned candidates not to buy votes.

“Don’t be tempted to buy votes,” Garcia said. “God is watching. We are watching.”

“They are thinking that Comelec is not serious in filing cases but we are firm not to proclaim those with pending cases should they win,” he said, adding that candidates found guilty of vote buying may face disqualification as well as imprisonment of one to six years.

Vote sellers may also be imprisoned for one to six years.

“At present, there are 100 candidates that were confirmed to have been engaged in vote buying,” Garcia said. “These candidates are now undergoing verification so that the task force can file a disqualification case and an election offense (against them).”

He said the Comelec will suspend the proclamation of those involved in vote buying, premature and illegal campaigning.

During Comelec’s “Oplan Baklas” on Friday, Garcia observed that several campaign materials are placed on private properties. “This only shows that many (candidates) are following the Comelec’s rules and regulations concerning campaign materials. We are thankful to them. There are only a few who committed violations.”

The Comelec also noted that out of the 1.41 million candidates nationwide, only around 2,000 were issued show cause orders concerning illegal campaigning and illegal campaign materials.

The poll body yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health, Philippine Red Cross and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The MOA aims to ensure that voters and government personnel and all those on duty during election day will have access to quality health services, especially when needed.

Tax free

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has called for tax-free service honoraria for teachers who will serve as poll workers during the BSKE on Oct. 30.

In a statement, ACT Region 3 union president Mathew Santiago pointed out the BSKE will not be automated unlike national elections, and thus it will be more tasking for teachers who will serve as poll workers and election board members.

Santiago said it is only proper to give the teachers higher honoraria, which must not be subjected to 20-percent tax.

“We are calling for at least P10,000 election service honoraria and the removal of the 20 percent tax previously being withheld [from the service honoraria]. In the past elections, various harassments and security threats against teachers were recorded. The teachers are risking their lives just to serve during elections, thus it is only right to remove the tax on their compensation,” Santiago said in Filipino.

Furthermore, he called for restoration of the meal and travel allowance for teacher-poll workers and additional compensation for those who will serve beyond the set working hours on election day.

Peace and order

With the upcoming BSKE and observance of the All Saints’ Day, government authorities must prioritize the maintenance of peace and order in our communities, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said.

“As we near the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, as well as the observance of Undas, it is of utmost importance that we give priority to maintaining peace and order in our communities. These events are significant in our national calendar and should be observed with a sense of tranquility and safety for everyone,” Estrada added, noting that BSKE is a crucial part of the democratic process.

He also put to task the Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority to conduct comprehensive inspections to ensure the seaworthiness of all vessels. — Emannuel Tupas, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rhodina Villanueva, Elizabeth Marcelo