CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Misamis Occidental will instill discipline and enforce election laws in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), October 30, 2023, reiterating that candidates are given "patas," or fair playing field, and will take necessary actions against violators.

"Naa man gud kandidato nga who can afford, naay uban tungod sa menus ang funding, dili kadaog [There are candidates who can afford, meanwhile other candidates have less funding who cannot win], so with the rules set by COMELEC, everybody will be at the equal level, the playing field," said Lawyer Milber G. Alinas, CPA, Election Supervisor III, COMELEC Misamis Occidental, during an episode of Let’s Talk MisOcc, a virtual media forum.

"Whoever will be abusive and will violate because they can afford it, we will take the necessary action to discipline and, of course, enforce the election laws," he said.

COMELEC Resolution 10946 is the creation of a permanent Kontra Bigay committee, a panel that will go after vote-buying offenders for the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

The resolution took effect last month, and it is still enforced.

"Daghan kaayo mga [there are so many] instances, list of activities that will be considered as vote-buying or vote-selling activities," he said.

Alinas emphasized the importance of choosing leaders at the barangay level. "Diha nato makita kung kinsa ang angay mo serbisyo, ang serbisyo tinud-anay ba sa barangay level [In here we will see who deserves to serve, a service that is truthful in the barangay level]," he said.

The election emphasizes the right to vote and the right to suffrage.

There will be two ballots for those aged 18–30 who are considered regular voters, one for barangay officials and the other for SK representatives. Meanwhile, for 15–17-year-olds, they can only vote for the SK representatives.

The election will be done manually. "We have approximately 14,174 candidates for the October 2023 barangay and SK elections in Misamis Occidental," the lawyer said.

A total of 490 barangays with a total of 466 voting centers, 1,388 clustered precincts, and a total of over 5,000 electoral boards will serve during the election.

Meanwhile, a total of 442,511 total voters were 18 years old or older. On the other hand, a total of 159,142 SK voters live in the province.

"Misamis Occidental is unlike other provinces; nga daghan gyud kaayo [so many] incidents sa election-related violence, sa MisOcc ginagmay, lalis-lalis, pero dli gyud muabot ang point nga magsinakitay na og apil na ang kinabuhi makalas [In MisOcc there are only minute arguments, but it will not go to the extent of violence where there will be death]," Alinas said.

COMELEC MisOcc is in regular coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and other deputized government agencies and local government units to achieve the goal of honest, orderly, peaceful, and secured elections in the province. (JMOR/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)