Comelec: BSKE successful despite poll-related incidents

MANILA, Philippines — Despite reports of election-related violent incidents, the recently concluded barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) was a success, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“The BSKE was successful because we were able to proclaim candidates and conduct canvassing in just a short period of time,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said at a press conference on Friday.

“Violent incidents happen in every election. This (election) is not a blueprint to see and check if there will be the same number of deaths or violent incidents. This is a blueprint for election management on how we deal with the problem and how we prepare for the activity. If we are able to do this for BSKE, we can also do this in other elections,” Garcia added.

The Comelec chief also noted that the BSKE is more peaceful compared to the 2018 elections.

“There are those saying that the 2023 election is the most disorderly and violent. With all due respect, I don’t think it is,” he said.

“As a lawyer in 2018, there were definitely way more problems that emerged then. It is better this year,” he added.

Garcia cited as proof the absence of any failure of elections in all the more than 200,000 polling precincts in the country.

“We didn’t have any failure of elections. There were delays in the conduct of elections, but not failure of elections. If there is no failure of elections, it means the conduct of elections is orderly,” he said.

“The point is we were able to complete this. Our democracy survived and we conducted very honest, transparent and credible barangay and SK elections,” he added.

Garcia, however, stressed that the poll body is not making light of the election-related deaths and injuries recorded.

“I feel bad that there are people dying because of the barangay and youth elections, but the number of those affected by violence is not that many,” he said.

“Necessary adjustments should be done by the Comelec, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in order to reduce these types of deaths,” he added.

Comelec data showed that there were 32 election-related incidents recorded nationwide, which resulted in 19 deaths and 28 injuries.

Following the successful conduct of the BSKE, the Comelec said it is now looking at getting the services of the AFP during election time.

“We will check if we can also have the AFP serve as members of the electoral board, especially in critical areas,” Garcia said at a recent press briefing.

He emphasized that the AFP and PNP would make a good combination.

“The AFP also has civil duties. It has a civil arm that can also be used (during elections). As you can see, even at checkpoints, elements of the PNP are joined by members of the AFP. When we were in Abra, the PNP chief issued an order to the provincial director that in all checkpoints set up, those to be deployed there are combination of PNP and AFP personnel. The PNP will be the frontliners, while the AFP will serve as support,” the poll chief said.

“Now we learned our lesson (in this recent election)... We know the problematic areas where we need to put additional forces,” he added.