INTERESTED TO SERVE. Thousands wait at the entrance of the venue at Robinsons Place for the filing certificate of candidacy for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in Iloilo City on Monday (Aug. 28, 2023). Commission on Elections Regional Director Dennis Ausan led the Regional Joint Security Control Center in activating checkpoints in selected areas in the province and city of Iloilo before visiting some precincts. (PNA photo by PGLena)
ILOILO CITY – The top official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Western Visayas reminded the public to be aware of prohibited acts as the election period for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) began on Monday.
At a press conference following the inspection and activation of checkpoints in selected areas in the province and city of Iloilo, Comelec Regional Election Director Dennis Ausan, who chairs the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) said, the activity aimed to enhance the awareness of the electorate on the start of the poll period.
“They should also be made aware that this is coupled with the implementation of some prohibited acts, of course, one of which is the gun ban, precisely the reason we have here all the members, the composition of the Regional Joint Security Control Center,” he added.
The RJSCC inspected the checkpoint established in the municipalities of Pavia and Leganes in Iloilo province and Tagbak in Iloilo City.
“So far as my personal view is concerned, we have covered four precincts this morning, and I can see that the checkpoints established by our Philippine National Police are very effective,” he said.
During the election period, he said the transfer and detail of all government officials and employees is not allowed although it is not absolute because they can always ask for exemption.
Further, he reminded aspirants of the allowed campaign expenses, a maximum of PHP5 per registered voter.
The region has 5,179,738 registered voters expected to cast votes for the regular elections and 1,764,423 voters who will choose their Sangguniang Kabataan officials.
Meanwhile, in Iloilo City, thousands of aspirants for barangay and SK posts trooped to Robinsons Place Iloilo to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs).
However, the commission can only accommodate up to 1,400 applicants daily at its venues in Cinemas 5 and 6.
Iloilo City Liga ng Barangay President Irene Ong, in an interview said, they expect a lot of aspirants particularly in barangays where there are last-term barangay captains.
“If they wanted to serve the better, but if they are only after the monthly honorarium, then it is not good. So it is up to our people to choose whom they want,” Ong, who is running for a second term, said.
She added that 54 barangay captains from the city’s 180 barangays are already in their last term. (PNA)
