‘TOL VIEWS

Preparations are firing on all cylinders with just a little over a month and a half before the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections scheduled on Oct. 30. The Commission on Elections (Comelec), both on the national and local levels, the local government units (LGUs), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and such other agencies of the government proceed with the election blueprint upfront, ensuring that every date and every scheduled activity is accomplished on time.  Groundwork is continually being laid to guarantee the safety of voters, candidates and the ballots.

While cases of election related violence have been sporadic, our law enforcement agencies remain anchored on the preventive approach.  Violent crimes driven by political motives begin to add up and politically motivated aggressions often escalate even long before the election period began. The stakes rise as election day draws near.  As always, the PNP takes on the larger chunk of the responsibility to guarantee peace and order before, during and after elections.  In fact, more than 187,000 police officers will be deployed nationwide for the BSKE, this figure surpassing the number of law enforcers deployed during the 2022 national elections reported to have reached 167,000 personnel.

The October 2023 BSKE will be the first local polls under the watch of Commissioner George Garcia, and he says Comelec is confident that the elections will proceed as planned and that the integrity of the polls are guaranteed.  After having been postponed for four times, this Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election is indeed long overdue.  Republic Act 11935 was surely a sigh of relief for our electorate, particularly those hungry for positive change and development in their local communities. With the resumption of the normal cycle of voting in the Philippines, we hope to likewise re-establish the peace and order that characterized past Philippine elections.

Every stage and every phase of the election period is vital and critical in ensuring that the genuine will of the people is reflected in the results.  What should be safeguarded is the right of our every kababayan to share in the work of shaping local communities by electing leaders that are champions of democracy, good governance, and local development.