LIVE UPDATES: Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections 2023
The country is finally holding the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) after five years of being postponed for various reasons.
Here are some of the things you may want to know about the BSKE:
Last barangay polls
- The last SK elections in the Philippines were held on May 14, 2018 alongside the barangay polls.
- Voting hours will start at 7 a.m. and will last until 3 p.m.
Special sector voters
- Voters who belong to the sector of persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and pregnant women, will have their own polling place called the Emergency Accessible Polling Place (EAPP).
- Voters in the EAPP are given six hours to cast their votes from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Registered voters
- According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), 67,839,776 registered voters who are at least 18 years old may vote in the barangay elections.
- There are 23,254,313 young registered voters who may vote in the SK elections.
- The country has 42,027 barangays in 148 cities and 1,486 municipalities.
BSKE positions
- BSKE voters may vote for one (1) Punong Barangay or Barangay Captain and seven (7) members of Sangguniang Barangay (SB) or kagawad.
- For SK elections, voters may vote for one (1) SK Chairperson and seven (7) members of SK.
Step-by-step guide
- At the polling place, find your precinct number and sequence number on the posted voters list.
- Approach the Electoral Board and state your name and precinct and sequence number.
- Get your ballot from the EB. Make sure that you have the right ballot.
- For voters aged 15-17 years old: 1 SK ballot.
- For voters aged 18-30 years old: 1 SK ballot and 1 Barangay ballot
- For voters aged 31 years old and above: Barangay ballot
- Sign the Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVL).
- Fill up the ballot by writing in the corresponding spaces the names of individual candidates you’ve chosen.
- Use the ballot secrecy folder to prevent other people from seeing your ballot.
After filling up the ballot, fold it in the same manner as it was received and return it to the EB. DO NOT remove the detachable coupon. - Place thumbmark on the corresponding space at the ballot coupon.
- Have your right forefinger nail stained with indelible ink.
- Observe as the EB removes the ballot coupon.
- The EB will deposit the ballot and the detached coupon in the corresponding compartments of the ballot box.
BSKE in EMBO barangays
- This year’s BSKE will be the first time for Taguig City to hold elections in the EMBO barangays.
- In Fort Bonifacio High School, a large volume of voters arrived.
- Some 20,000 voters for barangay polls are registered in Fort Bonifacio village.
- There are many ramps for PWDs, giving voters on wheelchairs access to the upper floors.
Comelec’s target turnout
- Comelec is targeting a voter turnout of at least 75 percent this year, higher than the 71.2 percent, or 40.89 million recorded in 2018.
- October 30 has been declared a special non-working day as the country holds the grassroots elections.
President’s vote
- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cast his at 7:04 a.m. in Mariano Marcos Elementary School in his hometown Batac.
- The President hopes the tensions brought by the election campaign will ease.
- He said the tension is brought by the fact that BSKE is held at the very intimate and personal level among voters.
Weather
- On the day of elections, Pagasa seen a Low Pressure Area (LPA) brewing off Eastern Visayas, which may bring cloudy skies and rains
- Overcast skies are predicted to prevail in Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.
Barangay chief, 3 others hurt in attack outside Basilan polling place
October 31, 2023 – 12:47 AM
Four people, one of them an incumbent barangay official, sustained gunshot and hacking wounds when they were attacked near the doorstep of their polling place in Barangay Lahi-Lahi of Tuburan town, Basilan on Monday.
The incident took place around 8 a.m. while voting was already in progress.
Read more.
3 killed in Basilan on election day
October 30, 2023 – 9:54PM
Three persons were killed in separate incidents in Basilan during the conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Monday.
Col. Fredrick Sales, deputy commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade, confirmed two bloody incidents but clarified that “we cannot directly attribute it as election-related violence as of now due to ongoing investigation.”
Read more.
Early voting pilot run for seniors, PWDs successful — Comelec
October 30, 2023 – 9:05PM
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia on Monday said that the pilot run of early voting hours during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Naga City and Muntinlupa City was successful.
“Again napaka-successful po, talagang dinumog po ng ating mga nakatatanda at mga may kapansanan, bagama’t initially po nagkalituhan kasi po ‘yung ibang parte ng ating banda akala nila ang early voting ay sa buong bansa,” he said.
(Again it was very successful, a lot of senior citizens and differently-abled individuals took part, although initially there was a confusion because the other parts of our country thought that early voting was nationwide.)
Read more.
Peaceful barangay, SK polls in Comelec – controlled Albay town
October 30, 2023 – 9:01PM
Police continued to monitor this town even after poll precincts were closed on Monday afternoon after residents cast their votes for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
The town was placed under the control of the Commission on Elections following the killing of village chief Alex Repato hours after he filed his certificate of candidacy on Aug. 28.
Read more.
Dumagat tribal folk in Nueva Ecija travel for 4 hours to vote
October 30, 2023 – 8:58PM
Members of the Dumagat tribe arrived in groups at Rio. Hico Elementary School in Barangay Rio Chico in this town to cast their votes during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Tribal chieftain Ben Belmonte said he traveled almost four hours from the mountainous Sitio (sub-village) Mapidya on a motorcycle just to reach his poll precinct.
Read more.
Teacher on poll duty dies in Legazpi City road crash
October 30, 2023 – 8:53PM
A public school teacher who served in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections died in a road accident in this city on Monday.
Lt. Col. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said Amelia Armario, 54, was riding a motorcycle driven by her son, Faustin Andrei, 19, when they figured in a collision with another motorcycle in Barangay Pawa at around 12:4o p.m.
Read more.
Cases of vote-buying reported in CDO — Namfrel
October 30, 2023 – 8:39PM
The National Movement for Free Election (Namfrel) here said that it had received reports of vote-buying during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Monday.
Nestor Banuag, local chapter chairperson of Namfrel in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental, said that they have received reports of vote buying in one of the highly contested barangays in the city.
Read more.
Longer term for barangay officials pushed anew
October 30, 2023 – 8:31PM
Sen. Imee Marcos on Monday renewed her call for longer terms for barangay officials.
“Dapat habaan na yung termino ng ating mga barangay officials, kasi wala na kaming ginawa sa Senate, sa Congress kung hindi i-extend nang i-extend [ang kanilang termino],” Marcos told reporters after casting her vote for the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections at Cabeza Elementary School in this city.
Read more.
294 petitions for disqualification filed vs barangay, SK poll bets
October 30, 2023 – 7:42PM
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Task Force Anti-Epal on Monday said that 294 petitions for disqualification have been filed against 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election candidates.
In a social media post, Comelec said that 223 petitions for disqualification were filed due to premature campaigning, while 71 petitions for disqualification were submitted for illegal campaigning.
Read more.
Teachers who served in barangay, SK polls assured of medical benefits, insurance coverage
October 30, 2023 – 6:55PM
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday assured teachers who served as barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election officers as poll workers for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) of medical and accident insurance coverage.
DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa made the announcement after it was reported that some teachers encountered accidents on their way to their assigned poll precincts.
Read more.
2023 barangay, SK polls generally peaceful, orderly — Comelec
October 30, 2023 – 6:32PM
The 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections was generally peaceful, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said on Monday.
Garcia made the pronouncement despite several reported untoward incidents, including a shooting and strafing incident, a brawl, and even a group of disruptors who destroyed official ballots.
Read more.
No failure of elections in 2 Palawan precincts amid voting disruption
October 30, 2023 – 5:20PM
No failure of elections was declared in two precincts in a school in Puerto Princesa city, Palawan.
The Department of Education (DepEd) released its initial report following the disruption of voting by a group during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Monday.
The suspects destroyed election ballots in two precincts in Puerto Princesa Pilot Elementary School.
Read more.
PNP records 17 cases of vote-buying nationwide
October 30, 2023 – 3:44PM
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded 17 cases of vote-buying from the start of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) period, or August 28, until a day before the polls.
According to PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., they started receiving reports of vote-buying incidents days before the BSKE.
“We have also received reports of alleged vote buying in certain areas since last week. We have taken immediate action by relaying this information to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for proper disposition,” Acorda said in a press briefing Monday.
Read more.
WATCH: Fistfight breaks out in Lanao Norte poll precinct
October 30, 2023 – 3:31 PM
This video from the Philippine National Police in Lanao del Norte posted by Cotabato City-based NDBC News on Facebook shows a fist fight among supporters of rival bets in Nunungan town, just before balloting opened on Monday.
The melee happened just outside a polling center.
Shootings disrupt BSKE in Basilan: 1 dead
October 30, 2023 – 3:07 PM
MANILA, Philippines — A Basilan resident was killed in a shooting that happened during Monday’s village and youth elections in Barangay Badja Tipo-tipo town in Basilan.
“Reportedly, the victim is a bona fide resident of Brgy. Bohelebbung of the above-mentioned municipality,” said Dave Procalla, the regional coordinator of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in Bangsamoro region.
1st time in 10 years: 96 Tagbilaran detainees vote on BKSE
October 30, 2023 – 3:02 PM
TAGBILARAN CITY — At least 96 detainees in this city voted Monday for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Jail Officer 3 Gina Sumampong, information officer of the city jail, said it was the first time in 10 years that detainees voted in the village and youth polls in accordance with the 2022 decision from the Supreme Court (SC).
Namfrel says no issues on pilot test of automated polls in Cavite
October 30, 2023 – 2:31 PM
MANILA, Philippines — There are no issues in the automated election system being pilot tested in a precinct in Dasmariñas City, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) said on Monday.
“In Dasmariñas Elementary School in Cavite where the automated election system is being pilot-tested for the BSKE [Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections], Namfrel observers reported that there has been no issues so far, besides some confusion among the members of the EB as to the start of voting, but voting still started on time,” the Namfrel said in a statement.
Comelec: Mall voting smooth; glitch hits some VCMs
October 30, 2023 – 2:30 PM
MANILA, Philippines — Mall-based voting in 11 locations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections was orderly while glitches were recorded in some polling precincts which used vote-counting machines (VCMs.)
“Napakaayos po (very orderly). Voting experience extraordina[ry],” said Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia when asked for an initial assessment of mall voting at SM Manila.
Lanao del Sur village aspirant slain by rival-brother
October 30, 2023 – 2:22 PM
COTABATO CITY — A candidate for village chair in Lanao del Sur was shot dead Monday by his rival — who happened to be his bother– after an altercation inside the voting precinct in Butig, Lanao del Sur as voting was about to start.
Lanao del Sur police provincial director Colonel Robert Daculan said Madid Bao, a candidate for village chairman in Barangay Poktan, who is the husband of the incumbent and last termer village chairwoman Conaipa Bao, died while being rushed to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City.
NCRPO: Metro Manila barangay, SK polls peaceful, orderly, so far
October 30, 2023 – 2:09 PM
MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Monday said that it has not monitored any untoward incident during the first few hours of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
“The initial hour for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections recorded no untoward incidents in NCR […] The delivery of election paraphernalia and opening of the polling precincts in Metro Manila was peaceful,” NCRPO acting director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement.
1 person slain in Lanao del Norte before balloting starts
October 30, 2023 – 2:04 PM
BACOLOD, LANAO DEL NORTE — A certain Samsoding Manalao Disumimba, 43, was shot near the polling center of Barangay Punod in this town even before voting for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections could begin on Monday, Oct. 30.
Major Rejie Bonn Pagaduan, Bacolod police chief, said they were in a convoy on their way to the polling place in Punod village and were still about five kilometers away when they heard a gunshot at 6:10 a.m.
Early voting in Naga City generally peaceful— Comelec exec
October 30, 2023 – 1:51 PM
LEGAZPI CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) recorded no major problems in the early voting in Naga City , Camarines Sur, for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections 2023.
Lawyer Maico Julia Jr., election officer of Naga City, said most of the concerns were only about difficulty in finding their polling precincts and missing names because of the deactivation of registration.
Group disrupts voting, destroys ballots in Puerto Princesa, Palawan
October 30, 2023 – 1:36 PM
MANILA, Philippines — A group of disruptors destroyed election ballots in voting precincts in Puerto Princesa, Palawan during the village and youth elections on Monday.
Commission on Elections chairman George Erwin Garcia confirmed the incident occurred in two precincts in Puerto Princesa Pilot Elementary School.
Read more
Comelec deploys more cops in 4 Central Visayas villages
October 30, 2023 – 1:23 PM
CEBU CITY — The Commission on Elections in Central Visayas (Comelec-7) has ordered the deployment of more policemen in four barangays where some candidates are facing disqualification cases during the proclamation of winners.
Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano said the need to have more policemen in polling centers in four barangays in Central Visayas is necessary to prevent any disorder that might arise from supporters of candidates, who cannot be proclaimed due to pending disqualification cases at the Comelec.
LOOK: Senators cast vote: ‘Better luck next time,’ Lapid tells losing bets
October 30, 2023 – 1:20 PM
MANILA, Philippines — Several senators have also cast their votes for 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
After voting on Monday morning, Senator Lito Lapid said Senate is always open to help communities in their projects.
Cops give free rides to Aeta voters in Bataan
October 30, 2023 – 1:05 PM
MORONG, Bataan — Hundreds of members of an Aeta community from the remote Sitio (sub-village) Kinawan were fetched by policemen to help them cast their vote at Binaritan Elementary School, which is located several kilometers from their homes.
“This was done to prevent candidates from taking advantage of this opportunity by providing free rides to our local IPs (indigenous peoples), which could be tantamount to vote-buying,” said Colonel Palmer Tria, Bataan police director.
Voting for barangay leaders ‘most important’
October 30, 2023 – 12:50 PM
MANILA, Philippines—With the barangay and SK elections on Monday (Oct. 30), Filipinos were told “the vote you cast […] may be the most important vote you will ever get to cast in your lifetime.”
Last held in 2018, close to 92 million registered voters all over the Philippines are expected to crowd 201,799 clustered precincts and 37,524 voting centers for this year’s elections.
PNP nabs 51 violators of Comelec-imposed liquor ban on BSKE day
October 30, 2023 – 12:24 PM
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday reported that 51 violators of liquor ban were apprehended nationwide amid the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE).
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said a total of 51 individuals in various parts of the country have so far violated the ban enforced by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday, October 29.
Read more
1,200 cops serve as poll workers after BARMM teachers backed out
October 30, 2023 – 12:07 PM
MANILA, Philippines — Over 1,200 policemen served as poll workers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during Monday’s village and youth elections after teachers backed out due to security concerns.
Police Brigadier General Allan Nobleza, regional director of the BARMM’s police office, said a total of 1,201 personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been deployed in the area to avoid failure of elections.
Abra polls open without any hitch, says PNP
October 30, 2023 – 12:04 PM
BAGUIO CITY — Polling centers in the Cordillera province of Abra opened without any hitches during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on Monday, Oct. 30, an indication that reported political coercions there have not succeeded, the Cordillera police said.
Although the number of candidates who have withdrawn has increased to 285, all remaining candidates and the teachers manning the electoral boards of inspectors are secure, said Police Brigadier General David Peredo, Cordillera Police director, in a press conference at Camp Dangwa in Benguet.
Man fires gun near poll precinct in Abra town
October 30, 2023 – 11:53 AM
BAGUIO CITY — Policemen in Abra province were dispatched to Barangay Lapat- Balangay in Tineg town after an unidentified man fired a gun near the polling precinct.
Authorities said the policemen replaced the teachers who were on poll duty.
Basilan lawmaker calls attention to ‘kinks’ as polls open
October 30, 2023 – 11:52 AM
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman called attention to some kinks as village and youth polls opened on Monday morning, Oct. 30.
Hataman made the rounds in Basilan towns to observe the political exercise.
‘Voting privileges’: Who are qualified for these?
October 30, 2023 – 11:38 AM
MANILA, Philippines—Senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women have been provided a set of privileges to make voting in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Election easier this year.
In past elections, senior citizens, PWDs, and even pregnant women found themselves in a tough spot as they encountered multiple barriers, including long queues and the lack of proper and accessible facilities.
‘Embo’ residents find no difference in voting under Taguig city’s control
October 30, 2023 – 11:27 AM
MANILA, Philippines — Residents in Embo Barangays voted as Taguig citizens for the first time since Supreme Court settled the territorial dispute between the cities of Taguig and Makati.
Residents in Barangay Cembo lined up by 7:00 a.m., with priority being given to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD).
Sara Duterte: BSKE, role of local leaders in governance important
October 30, 2023 – 11:25 AM
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has reminded Filipinos to give importance to the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
She said elected barangay officials play an important role in governance.
2 shot dead in Quezon on eve of barangay polls
October 30, 2023 – 11:17 AM
LUCENA CITY — Two people were killed in separate incidents in Quezon province on the eve of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), police said.
Quezon police reported that Aldwin Regodon, 45, was traveling aboard his motorcycle in the island town of Patnanungan around 10 p.m. when two motorcycle-riding males blocked his way.
On eve of 2023 BSKE, poll-related violence rose to 31 – PNP
October 30, 2023 – 10:19 AM
MANILA, Philippines — The number of violent incidents related to the nationwide Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) this year increased to 31 on Sunday, October 29, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said in press briefing Monday that 32 percent of the sum – or 10 poll-linked incidents – happened in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Some lawmakers cast votes in the early morning of election day
October 30, 2023 – 10:16 AM
MANILA, Philippines — Several lawmakers went early this morning to the polling centers in their districts to cast their votes for 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda said on Monday morning that he was the 188th voter who went to his precinct at Barangay Penafrancia in Daraga town.
Voting at Maguindanao school moved to covered court after killings
October 30, 2023 – 10:10 AM
COTABATO CITY — Voting at the Bugawas Elementary School in Datu Odin Sinsuat town of Maguindanao del Norte was moved to the nearby barangay covered court, after the killings of two persons as the precincts were about to open for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Monday, Oct. 30.
Lieutenant Colonel Esmael Madin, police chief of Datu Odin Sinsuat town, said the victims, who were identified only as supporters of a candidate for village chair, were about to enter Bugawas Elementary School to vote when attacked by still-unidentified assailants about 6 a.m. (not 7 a.m. as earlier reported).
Bongbong Marcos to voters: Pick best bet, don’t yield to vote-buying
October 30, 2023 – 9:49 AM
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged Filipinos to value their right to vote and not yield to vote-buying or vote-selling.
Following casting his vote for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Ilocos Norte, Marcos disclosed they received reports that a number of barangay candidates resorted to paying constituents to vote for them.
Comelec chair Garcia votes in Cavite
October 30, 2023 – 9:46 AM
MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair George Garcia cast his vote for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) in Indang, Cavite on Monday.
Garcia voted early in the morning at the Banaba Cerca Integrated School.
2023 BSKE: Woman can’t read and write but braves odds to vote
October 30, 2023 – 9:17 AM
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Irene Loang can’t read and write. She also has mild Down syndrome. But she eagerly went to cast her vote early on Monday, the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) Day – her very first of many more voting exercises she hoped to take part in.
Accompanied by her parents Juliet, 54, and Roldan, 60, the 20-year-old was among the early birds at the Pasong Tamo Elementary School in Quezon City.
PNP: 93% of polling precincts open for 2023 BSKE as of 8:19 a.m. Oct 30
October 30, 2023 – 9:13 AM
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that 93.1 percent of polling precincts for the nationwide Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) officially opened and started accepting voters as of 8:19 a.m., Monday.
But all voting precincts are expected to open by 7 a.m. and accept registered voters until 3 p.m. for the October 30 BSKE, according to the Commission on Elections.
Comelec observes ‘blockbuster’ number of voters in mall poll sites
October 30, 2023 – 9:10 AM
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported a “blockbuster” number of registered voters who cast their ballots in mall polling centers on Monday, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) Day.
Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said all 11 mall voting sites are 100 percent operational.
Maguindanao del Norte shooting kills 2, hurts 3 on 2023 BSKE Day
October 30, 2023 – 8:47 AM
MANILA, Philippines — Two voters were killed while three others were wounded in a shooting incident in Maguindanao del Norte on Monday morning, police said.
Brigadier General Allan Nobleza, regional director of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s police office, said the shooting occurred in Datu Sinsuat town’s Barangay Bugawas at around 6:00 a.m.
2023 BSKE: Bongbong Marcos votes in Ilocos Norte
October 30, 2023 – 7:51 AM
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday cast his vote for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in his home province Ilocos Norte.
As seen on a Radio Television Malacañang live stream, Marcos entered the Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac City at 7:04 a.m. It’s the same school where he cast his vote during the 2022 national elections.
Voting starts at Pasong Tamo Elementary School in Quezon City
October 30, 2023 – 7:08 AM
MANILA, Philippines — Early voters began casting their ballots at 7 a.m. on Monday at Pasong Tamo Elementary School in Barangay Pasong Tamo in Quezon City for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Pasong Tamo is one of the three areas designated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct automated elections, unlike the rest of the barangays in the Philippines which would use manual voting.
Abra seen as test case for conduct of polls
October 30, 2023 – 5:45 AM
MANILA, Philippines — On Sunday, the eve of the country’s first barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in five years, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) “guaranteed” peaceful elections on Monday in Abra province as an example for other flashpoint areas.
Abra has been seen as a major hot spot in the run-up to the polls, following reports of intimidation of teachers assigned there. At least two kidnappings, a murder of a candidate, and an encounter between police and armed men have also been reported in the province.
Election hot spots in the provinces tightly guarded
October 30, 2023 – 4:40 AM
COTABATO CITY—Despite the torching of at least two schools in Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Norte provinces on the eve of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, the balloting will still push through in these areas on Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruled.
Comelec Chair George Garcia said unidentified men had set ablaze the school building in Barangay Rumirimbang, Barira town of Maguindanao del Norte at 2 a.m. on Saturday while a similar incident also occurred in Poona Piagapo town of Lanao del Norte at 4 a.m.
In Zamboanga City, 852 inmates get to vote inside 2 jails
October 30, 2023 – 4:30 AM
ZAMBOANGA CITY—For the first time since the mechanism was established in 2013 that allowed persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to cast votes, balloting will be held inside two jail facilities in the city, where more than 800 inmates will vote for the slated barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Monday.
City election officer Stephen Roy Cañete said 650 PDLs would cast their votes in precincts organized inside Zamboanga City Reformatory Center (ZCRC), and another 202 at San Ramon Penal Farm (SRPF). Those in ZCRC will vote for barangay and SK candidates of Barangay Zone 1, where the center is located, while those at SRPF will cast their ballots for candidates of Barangay Talisayan, where the penal farm is found.
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