NO TO DRUG PERSONALITIES. Iloilo City Police Office Director Col. Joeresty Coronica (right) says drug money is expected to come into play in the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls. In a follow-up interview on the sidelines of the press conference about the BSKE on Wednesday (Sept. 6, 2023), he said candidates should not accept contributions from drug personalities. (PNA photo by PGLena)
ILOILO CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is calling on Ilonggo electorate to shun drug personalities this coming Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
"For candidates, they should not accept contributions from drug personalities. Barangay (officials) are members of the BADAC. So if they are influenced by drug personalities, what kind of information can we expect from the barangay?" said Iloilo City Police Office Director Col. Joeresty Coronica in a follow-up interview at the sidelines of the press conference on the BSKE on Wednesday.
"The best information on illegal drugs comes from the barangay," he added.
Coronica said they have been doing intelligence activities, including monitoring and validating incumbent barangay officials engaged in illegal drugs.
He added that they expect drug money to come into play in the coming polls.
Meanwhile, in the press conference, Iloilo Provincial Election Supervisor lawyer Reinier Layson, also the concurrent election officer for the city, said around 65,323 candidates vie for the over 26,000 posts for the upcoming BSKE in the city and province of Iloilo.
Comelec data showed that 4,294 filed certificates of candidacy (COCs) for punong barangay; 33,636 for Sangguniang Barangay; 4,514 for SK chair; and 22,879 for SK members.
"We don't have any data or information as to why the increase in the number of aspirants for the coming elections. But what is evident, of course, with the numbers we are facing right now, we have more aspirants for the SK and barangay elections. What is notable is that the upcoming Barangay and SK elections will be the first barangay elections coming from the pandemic," he said.
DILG Iloilo Local Government Operations Officer VII Raymundo D. Palanog said incumbent barangay officials are preparing documents and other inventories they need to turn over to the incoming officials after the elections.
The documents will serve as the basis for the new set of officials on where to start with their barangay governance upon their assumption.
He added their activity is more on providing support to the Comelec, which has the authority over the conduct of the elections.
"On our part, the department will have a massive activity right after the election because that's the time when DILG has its focus on strengthening the capacity of elected barangay, including SK officials," he added.
IPPO Col. Ronaldo Palomo, on the other hand, reminded the public that there is a need to secure an exemption from the Comelec for them to carry their firearms outside of residence. (PNA)
