By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. told the newly elected barangay officials to be honest all the time as they play an important role in the community.
The Chief Executive also congratulated those who won the elections.
“Binabati ko ang lahat ng mga bago at muling nahalal na barangay at SK officials. Napakahalaga po ng inyong papel sa ating lipunan,” Marcos said in a video message.
“Maging tapat po tayo sa lahat ng oras. Lagi po nating unahin ang kapakanan ng sambayanan sapagkat sila po ang dahilan kung bakit nais nating magsilbi sa bayan,” he added.
On Monday, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) were “successful and peaceful,” according to the President.
Despite the numerous violent occurrences that were recorded on election day at various polling places nationwide, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia said that there was no failure of election during BSKE.
“Despite the fact of our limited resources, nakakagawa sila ng mga pamamaraan upang maituloy lang ‘yong election, dahil and pangako natin, there should be no failure of election in any of the 201,786 precincts in the country, and we stood to that commitment na walang failure of election dapat,” Garcia said.
While some voting places opened later than expected due to various problems, especially security, he said that all of the 201,786 precincts nationwide operated normally during this year’s elections.
(ai/mnm)
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) revealed that a total of 19 election-related fatalities occurred in seven regions during the recently concluded 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) elections.
According to data provided by the electoral commission, these incidents of election-related violence took place between August 28 and October 31.
Among these fatalities, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) experienced the highest number, with 11 deaths, 13 incidents, and 14 individuals injured.
Two fatalities were reported in each of Regions V (Bicol) and VII (Central Visayas), while one fatality occurred in each of the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), Regions IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), IV-A (Calabarzon), and I (Ilocos).
Injured Teachers
In response to these incidents, Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced that the commission is prepared to provide hospital assistance of up to PHP200,000 to teachers who were injured while fulfilling their responsibilities as Election Boards (EBs).
“We will offer a maximum of PHP200,000 in hospital assistance to them,” Chairman Garcia stated during a press briefing.
Chairman Garcia noted that fewer than ten teachers sustained injuries, with causes ranging from snake bites and vehicular accidents to heart attacks.
Honoraria Distribution
Chairman Garcia further mentioned that the distribution of honoraria to teachers has commenced in Region 3 (Central Luzon). He assured that teachers across other parts of the country would receive their honoraria by the end of the week.
“They (teachers) will receive their honoraria by Friday, provided that the proclamations have been made,” the Chairman of the electoral commission affirmed.
(IA/mnm)
By Liezelle Soriano
The Supreme Court on Thursday reminded the Commission on Elections that the poll body cannot enforce the removal of campaign materials placed on private property.
The court declared the removal of such materials on private property by Comelec as unconstitutional.
This decision was reached in the case of St. Anthony College of Roxas City, Inc. v. Commission on Elections.
The Court clarified that Republic Act No. 9006 “only permits Comelec to regulate election propaganda owned by candidates and political parties.” It does not grant Comelec authority to regulate the political speech of private individuals on private property.
The high court confirmed that Comelec can enforce “Oplan Baklas” against candidates and political parties. However, it cannot be applied to private individuals expressing their political preferences or support for a candidate or political party.
The Court emphasized its long-standing commitment to protecting political speech, a fundamental expression guaranteed by the Constitution. Freedom of speech and expression are core civil liberties that must be safeguarded for the sake of democracy.
The en banc decision was authored by Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
FOLLOWING the withdrawal of some teachers as electoral board members for the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday disclosed that around 3,000 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) nationwide are being trained as their substitute.
Comelec chairman George Garcia acknowledged that teachers are not required to serve as poll workers for the 2023 BSKE scheduled on October 30, considering that it is near Undas or All Saints’ Day on November 1.
“Therefore, talagang noon pa man, inaasahan natin na may mga teachers na hindi magsisilbi sa araw ng eleksyon. Hindi naman namin sila puwedeng i-obliga kung kaya’t naghanda rin kami ng mga PNP personnel na magsisilbi bilang kahalinlin o kapalit nu’ng mga electoral board members natin,” Garcia said in his interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB.
He noted that some teachers in Abra have withdrawn as poll workers because they are related to the candidates.
Earlier reports said some 2,000 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) teachers have indicated not to render barangay poll duties this coming October 30 citing security reasons.
To address this predicament, Commission on Elections (Comelec) -BARMM Director Ray Sumalipao on Thursday, October 19, bared that 2,100 police officers have trained for polling precinct duties in the upcoming BSKE.
(ai/mnm)
On Friday, October 20, 2023, marking the second day of the campaign period, several Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates in Metro Manila were found to be in violation of the official memorandum issued by Comelec regarding the placement of campaign paraphernalia in designated areas.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia, along with other officials, took action by removing election paraphernalia such as posters and tarpaulins belonging to candidates running in the BSKE who had placed their materials in unauthorized poster locations along the Oroquieta and Recto areas of Metro Manila.
Photographs documenting Comelec Chairman George Garcia and other officials actively participating in the dismantling of campaign posters in various parts of Metro Manila were captured during this operation.
(Report and photography by Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)
Ni Liezelle Soriano
MAAARING umabot sa mahigit 1,000 ang disqualification cases laban sa mga kandidato sa barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), ayon kay Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia nitong Sabado.
“Sa mga susunod na araw, asahan na baka umabot pa sa mahigit 1,000 ang ipa-file ng (Comelec) task force na disqualification cases,” pahayag ni Garcia sa isang panayam sa radyo.”
Sa Lunes (Oct 02), nasa 40 pa ang ipa-file na disqualification cases,” dagdag pa niya.Sa ngayon, sinabi ni Garcia na umabot na sa 3,600 ang kanilang naisyuhan ng show cause order.
Kadalasan, ang nilalaman ng show cause order na galing sa Comelec ay humihingi ng karampatang paliwanag mula sa isang akusado kung bakit hindi siya dapat na madiskwalipika.
Ayon pa sa Comelec, nagsampa na ito ng disqualification cases noong Biyernes laban sa 35 kandidato sa BSKE dahil sa umano’y premature campaigning.”
Ang naisyuhan natin ng show cause order sa buong bansa ay almost 3,600 na… Sa 3,600, ‘yung 35 sinampahan na ng disqualification case… Hopefully makapagdesisyon bago ang BSKE sa October 30,” aniya.
By Junex Doronio
FACING 194 possible disqualification cases upon initial assessment, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday expressed confidence that the poll body can resolve these before the October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is set to file disqualification cases against at least 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates on Friday, September 29.
“Asahan niyo [You can expect], by Monday, these will be raffled to a division and then the division will issue a summons requiring the respondents to file,” Garcia assured.
He added that the Comelec divisions will hold “summary proceedings” and they will not be required to conduct a full-blown hearing on each petition.
“Therefore, sa isang linggo, kumpleto lahat ng proseso ng submission at pwede kaming magdesisyon sa second week ng October. Almost sure ako na may desisyon bago mag October 30,” Garcia said. (ai/mnm)
Image Courtesy of Benjie Cuaresma
By Benjie Cuaresma
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have forged an agreement to vigorously pursue and prosecute individuals involved in vote-buying during the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
JOINT FORCE. Commission on Elections Chairperson George Erwin Garcia (left) and Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla show to the media the copy of their offices entered into, an agreement to go after vote-buyers in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections at the DOJ office in Manila on Monday (Sept. 25, 2023). Remulla said prosecutors nationwide will be on duty to accept complaints on Oct. 30, election day. (Photo by Benjie Cuaresma)
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that prosecutors nationwide will be on standby to receive complaints on election day, October 30.
“The fiscals will be readily available to handle potential cases,” he informed the media during the signing of the “Kontra Bigay” memorandum of agreement at the DOJ office in Manila. He emphasized the importance of having witnesses since many instances of vote-buying involve electronic wallets rather than physical cash transactions.
Remulla clarified that there is no conflict between this initiative and a recent DOJ directive to thoroughly review all charge sheets submitted to prosecutors to ensure that only complaints with a reasonable chance of conviction proceed to court. Complete and substantial sworn statements from witnesses could turn many cases into “open-and-shut” scenarios.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia expressed confidence in the effectiveness of measures such as warrantless arrests for individuals engaged in vote-buying and red-flags such as the transportation of large sums of cash and giveaways as effective deterrents.
To date, Comelec has received 23 complaints related to vote-buying. The practice of “flying voters” (voters transported to different voting areas) has diminished significantly due to the adoption of modern voter identification systems, Garcia added.
The campaign period for the BSKE is set from October 19 to 28.
Following the closure of the candidacy filing period on September 4, Comelec reported a total of 1,414,487 aspirants, comprising 96,962 candidates for punong barangay (village captain), 731,682 for members of the Sangguniang Barangay (village council), 92,774 aspirants for Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) chair, and 493,069 for Sangguniang Kabataan council positions. (ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
ANTICIPATING THE LEVELLING UP of vote buying in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has alerted electronic wallet operators to monitor ‘suspicious” high-volume transactions, especially in the days prior to election day.
At the same time, Comelec Chairman George Garcia sternly warned GCash, Maya and other companies involved in mobile payment services that they may face charges for conspiracy to commit vote buying.
“Doon sa mga panibagong pamamaraan ng vote buying, tulad ng by way of GCash or online banking, kasama po namin sa Committee on Kontra Bigay ay Anti-Money Laundering Council at Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas,” Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. earlier said in a press briefing.
He also disclosed that the Comelec is already finalizing its rules and regulations on the penalties for vote buying for the BSKE in October, which will now cover online money transfers.
The Omnibus Election Code penalizes vote buying or selling with up to six years of imprisonment, disqualification from public office, and prohibition from exercising the right to vote.
Any political party found guilty of engaging in such acts shall pay a fine of not less than ₱10,000.
Considering that Omnibus Election Code was approved in 1985 and does not cover modern schemes of bribing during elections, the Comelec sees the need to also level up the law. (ai/mnm)