- Barangay and SK Elections conclude safely and peacefully: police
AUTHORITIES recorded zero election-related incidents in Davao Region as the polling precincts for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections officially closed at 3 p.m. on Oct. 30.
Regional police director Brig Gen Alden Delvo said they received reports of vote-buying, but they could not verify these complaints and have not arrested anyone.
The Police Regional Office XI and the Comelec previously launched Oplan Kontra Bigay to thwart vote-buying and influence-peddling for this election. “I’m really sure that there still exist [vote buying],” he said.
Delvo said the program’s aim is not merely to arrest but to educate voters and change the vote-buying culture.
The officer visited polling precincts in Davao del Sur, ten barangays of which were classified as election areas of concern due to intense political rivalry. Fortunately, nothing happened as the opposing camps opted to let the voters pick their candidates without harassment or threat.
He also visited Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School, the voting precinct of Vice President Sara Duterte and President Rodrigo Duterte, to check the security measures.
“I’m going around to ensure everything is safe,” he said in an interview with reporters at Daniel Aguinaldo High School.
Delvo said they also closely monitored one barangay in Davao del Norte due to intense political rivalry but the voting closed without fanfare. “This is also in preparation for the election in 2025. As you see, our police are in full force because it’s a prelude to 2025,” he said.
“Davao Region is peaceful despite sa nahitabo recently sa Montevista [the killing of aspirant barangay chairman],” he added.
Even after the polling precincts closed, the police, Army, and other law enforcement agencies will continue to secure the precincts for the counting of ballots.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Comelec XI acting regional director Gay Enumerables said they received reports of vote-buying and will continue to confirm their veracity.
She said they won’t hesitate to file a case against violators.
Some 10,000 soldiers, cops, and multi-agency forces were deployed to secure the elections in the region.
