COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) is ready to place the city of Cagayan de Oro and the province of Misamis Oriental Socorro under its control to ensure that the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) will be peaceful and orderly.
The final command conference, held by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for Misamis Oriental, took place on Tuesday, October 25.
All measures are in place for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for October 30.
The conference was attended by election officers from different local government units in the province, including Cagayan de Oro City.
Municipal and city police chiefs, school division officials, Philippine Army representatives, National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), and other agencies also joined the meeting to ensure peaceful voting.
Carlito L. Ravelo, the Provincial Election Supervisor for Misamis Oriental, reported on the total number of registered voters in the province and Cagayan de Oro City.
The total stands at 1,106,839, with age groups divided into three categories: 39,702 are aged between 15 and 17, 342,873 are aged between 18 and 30, and 724,264 are 31 years old and above.
The province of Misamis Oriental and the city of Cagayan de Oro together have 504 barangays, 3,082 clustered precincts, and 468 voting centers.
The Philippine National Police in Misamis Oriental, represented by Police Major Reynaldo Sandigan, committed to a collaboration with COMELEC to ensure a secure election.
Earlier, the police have committed to deploying mobile forces to polling centers and other areas requiring police presence.
They will also provide assistance at voting centers and report on the election status.
Since August 28, the police have been conducting checkpoint operations, which will continue through the election period.
This is in line with COMELEC Resolution No. 10924.
Army Major Keenan Arguelles of the 58th Infantry Battalion stated their commitment to support COMELEC and the police in maintaining peace and order during the elections.
Their activities include security support operations and implementing election laws and regulations.
The Army's 58th Infantry Battalion has increased intelligence development in their areas of concern to monitor any potential threats from lawless elements.
Squads will also be deployed to polling centers to prevent any violent plans against political candidates.
Lawyer Joe Dexter Nagtalon of COMELEC highlighted the Committee on Kontra-Bigay under COMELEC Resolution No. 10905.
This committee aims to enforce all COMELEC policies against vote-buying and vote-selling, which Nagtalon said prevents the country from electing worthy leaders.
Nagtalon also revealed that a Kontra-Bigay Complaint Center has been established.
People can report vote-buying and vote-selling incidents via phone or email.
He elaborated on what constitutes vote-buying and vote-selling.
Possession of campaign materials or money along with sample ballots for or against a candidate can be viewed as presumptive evidence of these practices.
COMELEC has also set up a Legal Assistance Desk, manned by its representatives, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Philippine Association of Law Students, and the Public Attorney’s Office.
This desk will attend to complaints related to vote-buying and selling.
To assist voters, COMELEC has made their online precinct finder available on their websites. (With PIA-10)
