MISAMIS ORIENTAL (PIA)--Following the final command conference held Tuesday, October 25, by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)-Misamis Oriental, preparations for the conduct of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) come October 30 are all set.

Attended by election officers from the different local government units (LGUs) in the province, including Cagayan de Oro City, municipal/city police chiefs, officials from various school divisions, Philippine Army (PA) officials, National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and other deputized agencies, the conference centered on the preparations by all agencies involved in ensuring peaceful balloting.

Misamis Oriental Provincial Election Supervisor Carlito L. Ravelo reported that the province and Cagayan de Oro City have a total of 1,106,839 registered voters, broken down as follows: 39,702 aged 15-17 years old who will be voting for SK only; 342,873 aged 18-30 years old who will be voting for both SK and Barangay officials; and 724,264 aged 31 years old and above who will be voting for Barangay officials only. 

Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City have a total of 504 barangays, 3,082 clustered precincts, and 468 voting centers.

PMAJ Reynaldo Sandigan of the Philippine National Police in Misamis Oriental committed to a partnership with COMELEC to ensure a safe election.

PNP Misamis Oriental committed deployment of mobile forces to polling centers and areas that need police presence. 

They will also provide voting center assistance and election status reports, among others.

PNP also conducted checkpoint operations since August 28 and is continuing in the election period, following the implementation of COMELEC Resolution No. 10924.

MAJ Keenan Arguelles of the 58th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army said that they continuously uphold their mission during elections. They are conducting security support operations and assisting the COMELEC and the PNP in implementing election laws, rules and regulations in the hopes of an orderly, peaceful, and credible synchronized BSKE.

For the part of 58IB, they have strengthened intelligence development among their areas of concern and monitor any possible actions from lawless elements. In case of adverse incidents, the army will preempt any violent plans against political candidates. Likewise, they also committed to deploying squads in the polling centers.

Lawyer Joe Dexter Nagtalon of COMELEC also shared with the command conference participants the Committee on Kontra-Bigay stipulated under COMELEC Resolution No. 10905. The said committee is mandated to implement all COMELEC policies against vote-buying and vote-selling, which, he said, hinder the nation from electing good and deserving leaders.

He added that the Kontra-Bigay Complaint Center has already been established, with a phone number and an official e-mail address, which reports on vote-buying and vote-selling can be submitted.

Nagtalon also briefed the audience on the presumption of vote-buying and vote-selling. Presumption refers to the possession of campaign materials and other corroborative evidence along with possessing or delivering money or anything of value with sample ballots for or against a candidate.

In addition, offering or promising something of value for someone’s vote is also an act considered a presumption.

Further, COMELEC disclosed that apart from the Election Monitoring System, part of their efforts for the upcoming BSKE is the establishment of a Legal Assistance Desk that would be manned by COMELEC, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Philippine Association of Law Students, and Public Attorney’s Office representatives. The desk will provide legal assistance for complaints on vote-buying and selling.

They have also made their online COMELEC precinct finder available on their websites and social media platforms.

COMELEC Misamis Oriental chief Ravelo told the men in uniform about the hopes of COMELEC chairperson George Erwin Garcia for them to protect the lives of those who will be working for the election.

“Please protect the lives of our teachers, our electoral board members, our election officials in the field, and practically all the stakeholders participating in the 2023 Barangay and SK Elections. Utang po ng COMELEC sa kanilang lahat, sa inyong lahat ang pagka-conduct ng isang malinis, maayos at karespe-respetong halalan. 

(Please protect the lives of our teachers, our electoral board members, our election officials in the field, and practically all the stakeholders participating in the 2023 Barangay and SK Elections. COMELEC owes them, owes all of you the conduct of clean, orderly and respectful elections),” Ravelo said, quoting COMELEC Chairperson Garcia’s call. (PIA-10/IJBD)