Campaign pd for BSKE ends today
By Nidz Godino
"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," Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said candidates for Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) are expected to pull out all stops as 10-day campaign period winds down today, even as Philippine National Police (PNP) has announced 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 of last day of campaign.
Reaching out to potential voters in community, 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.
Manila city government ordered liquor ban starting Oct. 29 until Nov. 2 ,2023 to ensure "orderly conduct of BSKE and for peaceful celebration of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day" in Manila.
Garcia reminded candidates to observe end of campaign period.
He stressed Comelec will not cease from removing illegally posted campaign materials until Sunday. Liquor ban shall also be in force starting Sunday night until election day.
On election day, Garcia advised voters to bring list of candidates they will vote for but they cannot take pictures of ballot. He stressed voters are not required to bring identification cards.
At least 352 more police officers from elite units were deployed in Abra ahead of BSKE, PNP said.
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda ordered deployment of additional forces in Abra in response to reports of some 250 candidates withdrawing from BSKE due to threats and intimidation.
Abra has always been under PNP's radar owing to history of election-related violence.
"These are from various units, not necessarily from local, not from Abra," Acorda said at news briefing in Camp Crame.
He said augmentation forces were pulled from Special Action Force and Reactionary Standby Support Forces.
On last day of campaign for BSKE, 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 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, these candidates are now undergoing verification so that task force can file disqualification case and election offense against them," Garcia said.
He said Comelec will suspend proclamation of those involved in vote buying, premature and illegal campaigning.
During Comelec's "Oplan Baklas", Garcia observed several campaign materials are placed on private properties. "This only shows many candidates are following Comelec's rules and regulations concerning campaign materials…we are thankful to them…there are only few who committed violations."
Comelec also noted out of 1.41 million candidates nationwide, only around 2,000 were issued show cause orders concerning illegal campaigning and illegal campaign materials.
Poll body signed memorandum of agreement with Department of Health, Philippine Red Cross and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
MOA aims to ensure voters and government personnel and all those on duty during election day will have access to quality health services, especially when needed.
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has called for tax-free service honoraria for teachers who will serve as poll workers during BSKE on Oct. 30.
In statement, ACT Region 3 union president Mathew Santiago pointed out 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 only proper to give teachers higher honoraria, must not be subjected to 20-percent tax.
"We are calling for at least P10,000 election service honoraria and removal of 20 percent tax previously being withheld from service honoraria...in past elections, various harassments and security threats against teachers were recorded… teachers are risking their lives just to serve during elections, thus it is only right to remove tax on their compensation," Santiago said.
Furthermore, he called for restoration of meal and travel allowance for teacher-poll workers and additional compensation for those who will serve beyond set working hours on election day.
With upcoming BSKE and observance of All Saints' Day, government authorities must prioritize maintenance of peace and order in our communities, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said.
"As we near barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, as well as observance of Undas, it is of utmost importance we give priority to maintaining peace and order in our communities…events are significant in our national calendar and should be observed with sense of tranquility and safety for everyone," Estrada added, noting BSKE is crucial part of democratic process.
He also put to task Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Industry Authority to conduct comprehensive inspections to ensure seaworthiness of all vessels.
No comments:
Post a Comment