ILOILO CITY -- Eleven days before the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), candidates were asked to do their share to make it peaceful and orderly.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. during his Thursday’s regular press conference said candidates should observe proper campaigning and disregard their personal hatred to their political rival.
“We should hold this election in our own interest and in free and democratic way,” he said adding that the position is something they don’t have to die for.
Meanwhile, the governor also reminded candidates to avoid vote buying and appealed to them not to insult the dignity of voters.
“I strongly recommend and I ask the candidates to do everything to hold this election in a peaceful and orderly manner,” the governor said.
The election watch list areas in the province have decreased to 28 villages from the 88 that were previously identified by the Iloilo police.
Elizabeth Doronilla, provincial officer of the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) office in Iloilo, said that the number of villages dropped to 28 as agreed and verified during their Provincial Joint Security Command Center (PJSCC) meeting here Wednesday.
Police and soldiers will prioritize these villages in deploying their personnel “to secure the areas and assure peaceful conduct of election,” Doronilla added.
After the week-long filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) last month, including the one day extension, Western Visayas registered a total of 114,385 aspirants.
For the barangay positions, Iloilo has the highest number of candidates with 32,567; followed by Negros Occidental with 14,672 candidates; Antique, 10,177; Capiz, 8,127; Aklan, 5,861; and Guimaras with 1,818 candidates.
Meanwhile, for SK elections, Iloilo remains on top with 16,383 candidates and again followed by Negros Occidental with 8,876 total candidates; Capiz, 5,948; Antique, 4,756; Aklan, 4,048; and Guimaras with 1,152 candidates. (PNA)
