Comelec condemns attack on BSKE winners, urges gov’t to protect citizens
Barangay and Sangunian Kabataan Elections composite image from Comelec by Daniella Marie Agacer / INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday denounced attacks on successful candidates in the recently conducted Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election.
The poll body also called on law enforcement agencies to ensure peace and order and continue protecting people’s security – whether winners or losers or voters in the election.
“Mariin [ang] Commission on Elections na kinokondena ang mga naganap na pagpatay sa Pasay at Davao ng mga nanalong mga kandidato sa nakaraang Halalan sa Barangay at SK, anuman ang dahilan, maging ito man ay may kinalaman sa halalan o wala,” Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told reporters through Viber.
(The Commission on Elections strongly condemns the killings that took place in Pasay and Davao of the winning candidates in the previous Barangay and SK Elections, regardless of the reason, whether it is related to the election or not.)
READ: Elected village councilor shot dead inside Pasay barangay hall
Laudiangco said Comelec chair George Garcia called on the government’s law enforcement and security agencies to “continue to watch over and protect the security of our countrymen, whether candidates win or lose, whether they are voters or not.”
Laudiangco also said that the poll body chair further urged for an extension of the campaign against crime groups, including the immediate and widespread disbandment of private armed groups, as well as an intensified investigation on recorded incidents of violence and a broad law enforcement campaign against loose firearms.
What happens when a proclaimed winning candidate dies?
Laudiangco explained that the “Rule of Succession” prevails when a proclaimed candidate dies, citing the Local Government Code.
Hence, the deceased winner’s post may be declared “permanently vacant” and should then be filled by a candidate in the next highest position.
“Sa pagkakataon pong ang napatay ay isang kandidato na naiproklama na nanalo sa nakaraang BSKE, ang lahat ng kanyang katunggali ay natalo na pong lahat at hindi po pinili ng kanilang kabarangay na botante… aakyat po sa mas mataas na posisyong nabakante ang kasunod na nanalong opisyal, at ang nasa dulo pong posisyon na magiging bakante sa pag akyat nila ay pupunan sa pamamagitan ng appointment ng isang kwalipikadong indibidwal ng City or Municipal Mayor,” Laudiangco said.
(If the person who was killed was a candidate who had been proclaimed the winner of the previous BSKE, all his competitors had all been defeated and were not chosen by their village voters… the next winning official would ascend to the higher position vacated, and the last position that will be vacant upon their ascension will be filled by the appointment of a qualified individual by the City or Municipal Mayor.)
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