The Commission on Elections, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in relation to the Oct. 30, 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections during an event held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Manila on Aug. 15. (Comelec Facebook Page)
MANILA, (PIA) — Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials are scheduled to meet Monday, Aug.22, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to discuss preparations for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30.
This is through a command conference to be held at Camp Crame in Quezon City, that will strengthen their collaboration for election-related security measures before and after the polls in Oct. and discuss the situation in all voting areas in the country with the agencies.
"We must always be reminded that the business of election is not only the business of the Commission of Elections. It is the business of the entire government. That being the case, there must be a whole-of-government approach in the conduct of the election,” Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said earlier in a report.
Part of the said meeting is the conduct of a press briefing in the morning, while the command conference is set in the afternoon.
The Comelec En Banc led by Garcia and its officials will also attend the meeting along with other deputized government agencies, Citizens' Arm and Civil Society Organizations.
Among the things that are expected to be discussed in the press conference include the update on the printing of ballots that will be used in the elections, and the scheduled transfer of precincts in 10 barangays from Makati to Taguig, among others.
Meanwhile, in a report by the Philippine News Agency, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said by Aug. 28, the start of the election period, increased visibility and checkpoints of police authorities are expected as the gun ban is also implemented until Nov. 29.
Laudiangco added that election-related peace and security measures have been rolled out by the Comelec's partner agencies, including the AFP.
He urged the public to actively participate in the October polls, and be keen on the behavior of BSKE candidates.
He said the public can report to Comelec instances of premature campaigning since aspiring candidates are expected to file their certificate of candidacy (COCs) by Aug. 28 to Sept. 2.
"Sana po mai-report sa Comelec kung sino man po ang maagang nangangampanya dahil pinapahintulutan lamang po ang pangangampanya mula Oct. 19 hanggang Oct. 28 (We hope it will be reported to the Comelec whoever tries to campaign early because official campaigns are only allowed from Oct. 19 to 28)," he added. (PIA-NCR)
