TACLOBAN CITY (PIA) -- As the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) draws near, the Commission on Elections in Eastern Visayas, together with various law enforcement and national government agencies joined forces to intensify campaign against vote buying and vote selling following the Regional Launching of the Committee Kontra Bigay on October 16 at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Camp Kangleon, Palo, Leyte.
This is part of the efforts of the Comelec to systematically stop vote buying and vote selling to protect the sanctity of the votes during the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
In a press conference, Atty. Felicisimo A. Embalsado, regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) expressed determination to strictly enforce the implementation of Comelec Resolution No. 10946 which created the committee and established rules and regulations in the disqualification of candidates who engaged in vote buying and selling under the Omnibus Election Code.
“Start tayo sa BSKE at onwards we will be strictly implementing this particular provision of the Omnibus Election Code,” Embalsado said.
Embalsado also emphasized that the resolution covers candidates or any person found guilty to have given anything of value including money regardless of the amount through digital or online transactions.
Police Colonel Salvador T. Alacyang, deputy regional director for operations said the Police Regional Office 8 is now ready to provide assistance to the Comelec in order to ensure the successful conduct of BSKE as they intensify implementation of latest Comelec issuances.
“The intensification of our election duties is just one of our active means to address the security issue that may possibly arise especially in identified areas of election concern,” Alacyang said.
To date, Southern Leyte, Biliran, and parts of Eastern Samar are areas of no concern while some areas in the 3rd District of Leyte, parts of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar are classified as areas of immediate concern.
Samar areas are classified as areas of grave concern, According to Alacyang.
Major General Perfecto Peñaredondo, assistant division commander of the 8th Infantry Division, assured that the army will ensure that the laws be enforced to all without any exemption.
“Ang boto ay sagrado kaya hindi dapat binibili at ipinagbibili. Our role in the Armed Forces is to ensure that this is enforced to all without exemption even those who are powerful,” Peñaredondo said.
In addition, the Philippine Coast Guard is committed to enforce the law in coastal areas transaction, according to Capt. Neptali Castillo, deputy commander of Coast Guard Eastern Visayas.
Initially, the PNP has deployed 67 newly trained in Basic Internal Security Operation Course (BISOC) in Ormoc City, 60 in Samar, 60 in Leyte and additional troops from the Regional Mobile Force Batallion 8 comprising 80 for Samar and 99 for Leyte. (LDL/CBA/PIA-8)
