BAGUIO CITY – Totaling 48 barangays under areas of concern, 40 barangays from 10 municipalities in Abra are recommended in the yellow category, which means history of election related incidents are present in the area. Meanwhile, eight barangays in Bucay were suggested to be in the orange category where serious armed threats can be observed.
This was based on Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) Abra Resolution No. 001, s. 2023 October 16, 2023 submitted to Committee on Ban of Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC) as a recommendation on the categorization of the areas. According to Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Mae Richelle Belmes, they still have not received a resolution that their data has been adapted by the COMELEC En Banc.
Based on the assessment of the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor, the presence of dominant political clans who serve as “handlers” of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates is the reason for the complications. These political clans are probably supplying money or firearms to these Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates, adding to records on election related incidents.
Further, Atty. Belmes presented an election update on the province in the 3rd Regional Joint Security Control Center Command Conference. Based on the data as of October 22, 2023, withdrawal of certificates of candidacy was observed. There were 49 candidates for Punong Barangay who were put out on the election, 91 Sangguniang Barangay Members, 24 Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson, and 90 Sangguniang Kabataan Members, totaling to 254 candidates. It was identified that some of the candidates were voluntarily withdrawn while some reports were of force and intimidation, but none of the 254 candidates have come to the office or signed an affidavit pertaining to a particular handler. In addition, some candidates have been disqualified or seeking reappointments.
Moreover, 94 personnel from Philippine National Police (PNP) will be deputizing as members of special electoral boards (SEB) which completed their training on October 13. The reason behind utilization of PNP were such areas with no willing, qualified available DepEd teachers; areas with request utilization of PNP personnel, areas classified under red category or declared under COMELEC control, and areas where EBs failed to report in the early morning of election day.
Issues on the advanced payment of honorarium from teachers has also been clarified. Atty. Belmes said she has already raised the concern to the DepEd Division Office where it was denied since payment is only after they have completed their duties provided in their resolution. The resignation of 30 DepEd-EBs was due to reasons of intense political rivalry, health reasons, personal and unwillingness to serve in a particular area determined by the election office.
Atty. Belmes on premature campaigning: In Bangued, there has been recommendation from Task Force Premature Campaign for the Motro Propio Disqualification Case to two candidates which as subpoena were already issued to the respondents while a show-called order has been filed for the candidates from Sallapan and Tubo.
During the open forum, Atty. Julius Torres, Regional Election Director, COMELEC-CAR clarified to Atty. Belmes that bringing firearms for PNP-EBs to bring inside the voting precincts are still prohibited in accordance with the law. Regarding the problem of peace and order in the area, Atty. Torres suggested only adding PNP personnel who will safeguard outside the voting precincts.
Other provinces were also present during the meeting in which Kalinga has recorded one area of concern. In addition, Baguio and Benguet, Apayao, and Mountain Province presented status under cooler election color schemes. By Adrian Mas