Comelec: BSKE 2023 officially over; some winners emerge via ‘bato bato pick’ showdown

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday announced that the barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections (BSKE) have officially concluded.

Comelec chair George Garcia made the pronouncement after citing reports that regional poll offices have already finished proclaiming the winning candidates who had tied in their vote counts.

Deciders or tie-breakers included drawing lots, tossing coins, and even bato bato pick (rock paper scissors).

“Happy to inform that we are 100 percent done with the elections. Had just resolved the last tie,” Garcia said through Viber, citing Regional Elections Director (RED) lawyer Dennis Ausan.

Meanwhile, current Comelec data shows a voter turnout of 75.76 percent for the barangay elections and 76.08 percent in SK elections based on 160 of 1,634 cities and municipalities as of November 3.

These latest numbers are far higher than the voter turnout for barangay and SK elections in 2018 at 71.20 percent and 65.51, respectively.

READ: 2023 barangay, SK polls generally peaceful, orderly — Comelec

Garcia, in an earlier press conference, said that the list of winning candidates in all barangays nationwide will be uploaded to Comelec’s website next week.

“Hopefully by Thursday or Friday next week, mai-download sa website ang lahat ng nanalo sa buong bansa sa BSKE,” said Garcia.

(Hopefully, by Thursday or Friday next week, the names of all the BSKE winners nationwide will be on the website.)

READ: Comelec head says 2023 BSKE canvassing, proclamation almost done