Number of poll incidents higher than in 2018 BSKE

MANILA, Philippines — There were more election-related incidents (ERIs) during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this year than in the BSKE in 2018, according to the Philippine National Police.

PNP chief publicist Col. Jean Fajardo said 47 ERIs occurred in the recent electoral execises, which surpassed the 40 cases in 2018, or an increase of 17.5 percent.

Fajardo said 35 of the cases are under investigation.

Six of the incidents occurred on election day on Monday.

“Ang karamihan diyan ay shooting incidents na may 19 (Mostly were shooting incidents with 19),” Fajardo said in an interview over Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

The other incidents were physical injury with seven followed by beatings with four and kidnapping, three.

Other light threats included harassment and fire incidents with two each, and grave threats, armed confrontation, robbery with intimidation and violation of domicile, indiscriminate firing, armed encounter, alarm and scandal, vote buying and selling, and gun ban violation with one each.

Fajardo said 15 people were killed and 43 were injured due to violence in the BSKE.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region logged the most number of elecion-related incidents with 16 followed by Northern Mindanao with 13.

In Metro Manila, only one BSKE-related incident was documented by the National Capital Region Police Office.

The PNP earlier said the BSKE was relatively peaceful as violent incidents that occurred did not disrupt the conduct of voting.

Mandatory training

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos reminded SK election winners that they could not assume office unless they undergo mandatory training.

Abalos said the legally mandated training would be conducted by the National Youth Commission in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“Under the law, SK winners cannot assume office unless they have undergone the mandatory seminar,” Abalos said in a forum of the Kapihan sa Manila Bay.

SK chairpersons have until Nov. 13 to complete the training before they could be allowed to assume their position.

Training for SK members who come from larger barangays will have be extended until after Nov.14, depending on the schedule that will be released.

The training is provided under Repubic Act 10742 or the “Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015.”

Failure to attend the training can be grounds to disqualify any SK official.

The training covers different modules including local government organization, SK history, planning and budgeting, as well as code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials.

Inmates who won in the recent BSKE will not be given special treatment even behind bars, Abalos said.

He said these winners would have to await the decision of the court on the cases they are facing.

Three inmates had won as kagawad or barangay councilor in the BSKE.

“There will be no special treatment. If you’re in jail, it can’t be that you’ll be on the phone 24 hours, or have cellphone, that can’t be,” Abalos said mostly in Filipino.

He said the inmates would still enjoy the right to vote or run for office as they have not been convicted of a crime.

Once they are convicted, they can be perpetually disqualified from holding office. — Romina Cabrera