ILOILO CITY (PIA6) – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC)-Iloilo has urged the candidates of the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to follow the electoral rules, noting that campaign period has already started on Oct. 19, 2023.

In a press conference conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Iloilo on Oct. 17, Atty. Reinier Layson, Iloilo Provincial Election Supervisor and concurrent City Election Officer, reminded the candidates the campaign and election rules that they must adhere to avoid cases of disqualification.

“Kinahanglan namon ang pinakaimportante, ang kooperasyon sang mga kandidato, sang aton mga botante. Gina-remind ko lang nga hindi lang tani kamo mag resort to illegal electoral activities, buligan naton ang COMELEC, ang aton sarili to prove nga kaya ta mag-daog without resulting to illegal acts,” Layson stressed.

Layson  also said that the COMELEC-Iloilo is on top of all the preparations for the election period, saying that they have already trained the electoral board members and are winding up the operations in preparing the teachers of their duties and responsibilities.

tee on Kontra Bigay. Aside from government agencies involved, we will be empowering the voters to have an avenue or tool to report those who engage in vote-buying,” he added.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica and Police Lieutenant Colonel Orly Z. Gabinete of Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) said that security preparations during the election are already in place.

“Our security operation is already in place, gina fine tune na lang because we are adjusting from the directives of higher headquarters. Rest assured that your PNP (Philippine National Police), together with the Army and [Philippine] Coastguard are supportive with this BSKE to have safe, secured,accurate, and fair elections,” Coronica said, noting that they were given a mandate to deploy at least two police personnel in every polling center.

Brigadier General Michael Samson, Commander of 301st IB, Philippine Army, on the other hand, said that they are ready to deploy an additional quick response team during the voting period on Oct. 30 to help the police personnel in ensuring the conduct of safe and peaceful elections.

“One of the concerns nga ginatagaan namon [attention] is presence of rebels in some areas that might create security concerns sa aton elections, and with or without elections, we have our mandate to really address the issue of insurgency, but the more, during the election that we will ensure that they will not disrupt ang pag-conduct sang election,” Samson added.

As to the identified election areas of concerns (EACs) in Iloilo, COMELEC data showed that 92 barangays have been identified in the province, while only one in the city, namely the Brgy. Monica-Blumentritt in the City Proper district.

Layson also revealed that the commission already issued more than 50 show-cause orders in Iloilo in response to allegations of premature campaigning. (AAL/JNH/PIA Iloilo)