By Hans Amancio Over two million voters in the city of Manila endured the intense summer heat to cast their votes for the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) today, May 14. After a number of postponements, the 2018 BSKE finally pushed through with a total of 2,339,922 registered voters (1,015,978 for barangay and 1,323,944 for Sangguniang Kabataan), in Manila City alone. Voters queue at Avancena Elementary School in Manila to cast their votes during the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, Monday.
(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN) Around 92 polling centers and 3,316 clustered precincts were put up in various public schools to accommodate around 970,000 registered voters in the city of Manila, said Senior Supt. Danilo Macerin, chief district directorial staff of the Manila Police District. As early as 6 a.m., thousands of voters already flocked the Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Delpan, Manila, which holds a total of 37,848 barangay voters and 12,908 Sangguniang Kabataan voters. Roderico Ramos of Barangay 11 said that in spite of belonging to the most populated barangay in the city, the 2018 BSKE was a lot less of a hassle than the last barangay elections held last 2013. "Mas magaan ngayon kaysa nung nakaraan kasi dati talagang mahahaba ang pila at sobra pang tagal. Eh ngayon mabilis-bilis ang daloy. Sa ngayon, maganda na ang flow ng boto (It's a lot easier this elections compared to the last one because lines were a lot longer then and it was time consuming. But now it has been a lot quicker. The flow of the elections is looking pretty good)," Ramos said. Ella Silvestre, another registered voter from Barangay 11 was all praise for this year's BSKE and said that the voters this 2018 are fewer than the last. "Actually, ngayon lang ako dumating pero natapos agad. Inaassist kami agad ng maayos. Dati madami (ang botante) pero ngayon parang konti lang (Actually, I just arrived but I finished early. We were well-assisted. There were many voters before but now, there are fewer)," she said. Voters from Padre Burgos Elementary School in Sta. Mesa, Manila shared the same sentiments and even claimed to have enjoyed the 2018 BSKE. "Actually first time ko po ngayon. Okay naman.. masaya po. Hindi po ako nahirapan (This is actually my first time to vote. It was fine and fun. I did not have a hard time)," Maria Noveliza of Barangay said. "Bumoto ako noon at mas madali ngayon kasi organized ang preparation nila at marami din nagaassist. Ang mga priority talaga ay seniors, PWD at elders (I voted last elections and I'd say that its a lot organized and many assisted us. They prioritized seniors, PWD and elders)", Rachel Velasco of Barangay 572 said. Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada arrived at the Padre Burgos Elementary School to cast his vote. The Manila Mayor arrived at his respective voting precinct at around 10:30 a.m. and was welcomed with handshakes and kisses from his supporters. After casting his ballot, Estrada appealed to the winning BSKE candidates to be responsible officials in their respective barangays. "Like what the president has been saying.. they should be sincere to their position and go against drug and corruption. That's it. Concentrate on their duties as barangay chairman. Always be conscious about drugs.. because they know who the drug addicts are in their barangay", Estrada said. Meanwhile, a barangay kagawad candidate died allegedly due to heat stroke amid the 2018 BSKE elections, the Manila Police District (MPD) announced. MPD Director PC/Supt. Joel Coronel identified the victim as barangay kagawad candidate Felino Balingod, Jr. of Barangay 390, Zone 40, District III. Police reports said that the victim was found unconscious due to extreme heat inside his home in Quiapo, Manila but was brought to the Ospital ng Sampaloc. Attending physicians, however, declared the victim dead on arrival. Casting of votes in a cluster precinct at Barangay 660 meanwhile was temporarily put on hold after its board of election tellers and poll watchers engaged in a heated argument over a suspected flying voter. Poll watcher Patrick Mapa said that election operations in cluster precincts 26-59A and 26-60A at the Araullo High School along U.N. Ave, Manila were put to a halt for over an hour when an undisclosed voter who allegedly had suspicious identification arrived. The board of election tellers said that they would have to speak with the said voter first, which the poll watchers disagreed to. Both parties eventually negotiated and allowed the voter to cast his ballot. Elections at the said precinct resumed at around 11 a.m.