Critical thinking crucial in barangay, SK polls – Jimenez

A worker arranges shirts for campaigning of local officials at a stall in Legarda, Manila as they prepare for the start of the campaign period on May 4 for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

Voters must exercise critical thinking when they cast their ballots on May 14 for the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez said on Friday.

While campaign ads and other materials were starting to flood public circles, Jimenez said that voters should not easily get carried away.

“I’m sure na binabaha na ng panawagan sa mga kandidato, mga panliligaw mula sa mga gusto magpaboto sa kanila, sana po maging mapanuri tayo. Huwag tayo magpapadala sa mga matatamis na pangako,” Jimenez said in a press briefing.

Instead of being blinded by campaign chants, jingles and flashy posters, the Comelec official urged voters to look into the character of the candidates as this was a crucial part of decision-making.

“Tingnan natin ‘yung karakter ng taong nangangampanya, tingnan natin ang kanyang nakaraan, tingnan natin ang kanyang track record, tingnan natin ang kanyang naipakita na, lalo na sa aspeto ng serbisyo sa mamamayan sa inyong komunidad,” Jimenez said.

Likewise, Jimenez said that voters should take the time to listen to each candidate’s platforms during the campaign period.

“Itong bagay na ito ay malaking bahagi dapat ng pagdedesisyon, hindi lamang kung kakilala niyo siya, o kakilala niyo magulang niya, o schoolmate mo,” the polling body official said.

“Maging mapanuri tayo sa kanilang ihinaharap nila sa atin. Critical thinking is critical at this period,” he stressed.