‘Barangay, SK elections in Metro Manila generally peaceful’

MANILA, Philippines — There was no recorded incident of violence during the conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in Quezon City and other parts of Metro Manila yesterday, according to the Philippine National Police.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said he was satisfied with the security measures put in place by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) that ensured the safety of people who trooped to polling precincts.

Acorda cast his vote at the Ponciano Bernardo High School along P. Tuazon Boulevard.

QCPD director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said voting in 169 polling centers in the city’s 142 barangays was peaceful.

At least 3,900 police officers secured the BSKE in Quezon City.

The situation in eastern Metro Manila was also peaceful, police said.

Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta, director of the Eastern Police District, said no violence related to the elections was recorded in the cities of Marikina, Pasig, Mandaluyong and San Juan.

Northern Police District director Brig. Gen. Rizalito Gapas told The STAR that no violence was reported in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela.

At least 13 voters in Malabon, mostly senior citizens, suffered dizziness due to the influx of voters at the Potrero Elementary School, according to the city’s disaster risk reduction and management office.

A total of 43 people have been arrested for election-related offenses from Oct. 25 to Oct. 30, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported yesterday.

Of the number, 34 individuals were nabbed for violating the liquor ban.

The NCRPO said 19 of the suspects were apprehended in Manila. This was followed by Pasig and Quezon City with six arrested suspects each.

EMBO residents vote in Taguig

Meanwhile, more than 275,000 residents from the 10 enlisted men’s barrio or “EMBO” barangays voted for the first time as Taguig citizens.

According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Taguig, the elections in the EMBO barangays went relatively well, with some minor hiccups.

“It was not perfect but it was smooth. We received some complaints from senior citizens, but these were all addressed,” Taguig Comelec head Eli Aringay told The STAR.

“But in terms of peace and order, everything went well,” he added. — Nillicent Bautista, Mark Ernest Villeza