TACLOBAN CITY – Nineteen out of the 20 barangay chairmen in Matuguinao, Samar, are running unopposed in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections 2023 in October.
Mayor Aran Boller disclosed they have not met the 100 percent target of their Unity Assembly for the BSKE 2023 since far-flung Barangay San Roque, located in the boundary between Samar and Northern Samar, has two candidates for barangay chairman.
"We initially thought that two of our barangays would not follow what we had agreed upon during our dialogue, but it turns out that only one failed, which is Barangay San Roque," Boller said.
Boller alleged that one of these candidates is backed by the New People's Army which still have a strong influence over the people in the barangay .
He appealed for help from authorities to monitor the peace and order situation in the barangay to prevent chaos and harassment of voters.
Police Col. Peter Limbauan, Samar police chief, said that they are in the process of preparing for the BSKE.
Limbauan added that following the deadline for the filing of Certificates of Candidacy on September 2, they are determining police personnel who are related to candidates in the elections to reassign them to other areas.
He said that Samar province has not yet recorded any election-related violence.