Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, Kids used in campaign; all 20 incumbents win

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Children were reportedly used by candidates in one of the barangays in Pulupandan town, Negros Occidental in distributing campaign leaflets during Election Day.

Reporters covering the election have documented several kids utilized in giving out candidates’ leaflets to voters, outside the Pulupandan Elementary School in Barangay Zone 1.

“This is an act of election propaganda, which is prohibited by the Comelec,” Pulupandan election officer Tess Parroco said. Citing a Comelec resolution, she said the distribution of leaflets, or sample ballots, is prohibited on Election Day.

TV reports also showed some candidates threatening their constituents that if they will not vote for them, they will be stricken  out in the list of beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Parroco however said those were just allegations.

Meanwhile, all of the 20 incumbent barangay chairmen in this town, seeking re-election, have won in Monday’s polls, Parroco said, adding that only nine  of them have no opponents.

Those who run unopposed were in Barangays Apong, Canjusa, Kulo, Pag-ayon, Palaca Sur, Ubay, Utod, Zone 3, and Zone 4A. Parroco said the winners were proclaimed Tuesday morning.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. had said last week that democracy in Pulupandan prevailed this year because half of  the  barangay positions in the town were contested, unlike in the past election. “There is now a small light at the end of the tunnel for democracy to prevail in Pulupandan,”  he said. —-(FREEMAN)