BSKE PREPARATIONS. Officials in Lanao del Sur province on Thursday (Oct. 12, 2023) give updates related to peace and order concerns for the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the area on Thursday (Oct. 12, 23). Updating the media and public are Election Supervisor and lawyer Udtog Tago (from left); Col. Bill Dela Rosa, deputy commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade; and Vice Gov. Mohammad Khalid Adiong. (PNA photo by Nef Luczon)
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur – The provincial government on Thursday identified two of 10 municipalities with "areas of concern" for the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
In an interview, Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid Adiong said there are barangays in the towns of Malabang and Lumbatan identified during their recent meeting with the peace and order council.
"Nevertheless, it does not mean the whole municipality is subjected as an area (of concern), there are only a few barangays identified," he said.
He declined to identify the eight other towns with areas of concern pending thorough validation.
"There are areas whose candidates are within family members but would not give way, so they are contesting (barangay elective) positions," Udtog Tago, the provincial election supervisor, said.
Tago, a lawyer, said they requested about 1,049 police personnel to be deployed during the campaign season and election day.
He added some police personnel will assume Board of Election Inspectors as several public school teachers "waived" the role because they are relatives of opposing candidates.
Tago also said ballots and canvassing forms have already arrived on Thursday.
In the province, there are 658,587 registered voters for the barangay polls and 289,009 youth voters for the Sangguniang Kabataan.
Based on the Comelec data, the province has 1,161 barangays with 2,374 clustered precincts on 240 voting centers.
Meanwhile, Col. Bill Dela Rosa, the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade deputy commander, said they have formed a joint task force with the police and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
"There are candidates this (BSK) election who are also members of MILF," he said.
Dela Rosa said troops under the 106th Infantry Battalion have arrived at its headquarters here to augment the number of personnel to be deployed in voting precincts.
Lanao del Sur comprises 39 municipalities and one city (PNA)
