Who would have thought that Barangay and SK Elections today could become as festive as the local and national elections posts? Its only the name barangay differentiates from the contest for higher political post. Candidates as well as supporters do all their best comes election day-flyers, poster, tarps, streamers, giveaways, and media ads.
Candidates for Barangay Officials were reported to have engaged vote-buying in any areas of the city and also those running for sangguniang kabataan. When the old fellows home visit their constituents, give folded flyers with money, the aspiring youth leaders gathers the youth voters two days before the election on a beach resort or amusement areas plus additional P500 per voter came election day.
IM4Peace-Iligan cluster documented vote-buying and distribution of campaign paraphernalia by candidates supporters within the vicinity despite the comelec’s warning, dead people still on the voter’s list, running candidates makes themselves visible-an indirect campaign in a form of assisting the voter’s in finding their precincts.
In some areas, conflict is inevitable. Firefights among political rivals stir up yet it is being stopped by the armed men(security) in the area while in some areas resulted to confrontations. Violence has become commonplace and regarded as normal occurrence. Money of course also, determines the outcome.
Voting was closed around 3:30 pm while others until 5pm due to slowness of voting process and or late delivery of ballot boxes.
These was not the case decades ago of Barangay Elections when the only incentives of becoming a barangay officials was the respect for the constituents and performing community service.
(initial report of IM4Peace Monitoring Team-Iligan City chapter)
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