By Charlie Señase
Inquirer Mindanao Bureau

COTABATO CITY–Acting Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Resurreccion Borra has reminded provincial, city, and town poll officials to disseminate resolutions pertaining to the October 29 barangay (village) and youth polls.

“It is imperative that candidates in the Barangay and the Sangguniang Kabataan elections and the public in general are aware of the Comelec guidelines,” said city election registrar Arlan Mangelen in paraphrasing Borra’s latest directive.

Significantly raised was Comelec Resolution 8230 which pertains to the use of campaign and other propaganda materials of which a candidate is only allowed to spend P3 per voter.

Mangelen said poster sizes should not exceed two feet by three feet and must only be displayed within the designated common poster areas.

The Comelec official also reminded candidates of the October 18 deadline for the filing of their certificates of candidacy.

While the liquor and gun bans are being enforced until November 13, the Comelec has set the campaign period from October 19 to 27.

By Inquirer

DAGUPAN CITY–A candidate for village chief was shot dead in front of his furniture shop in Tayug, Pangasinan, on Tuesday even as more areas were placed under police watch in the run up to the barangay and youth elections on Oct. 29.

Tayug police chief Supt. Sotero Soriano Jr. said Jaime Tolentino, 57, who filed his candidacy for barangay captain of Carriedo in Tayug on Monday, died instantly after men aboard a motorcycle shot him at about 12:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Tolentino’s 24-year-old son, Marlon, who was sawing a piece of wood in their shop, was wounded when a stray bullet hit his right leg.

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By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified at least 4,511 villages throughout the country as hotspots for the upcoming October elections, PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. said Tuesday.

At the same time, Razon said the PNP will work with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to ensure that the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) polls will not be disrupted by threat groups like the communist rebels, terrorist groups and private armies of some politicians.

Razon presented a report on the October 29 elections to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during Tuesday’s meeting of the National Security Council in Malacañang. He said he will submit the same report to the Commission on Election Wednesday.

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By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Acting poll chief Resurreccion Borra has warned the public against taking lightly the importance and the level of rivalry in the upcoming barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections on October 29.

“Let’s not underestimate [these] elections because it will be hotly contested. Brothers will run against brothers; fathers against sons; relatives against neighbors. All do not want to lose and amor propio or pride will not create the atmosphere conducive to a free, fair, and intelligent elections,” he told reporters at the Senate shortly before the start of the hearing on the Comelec’s budget.

Borra, who took over the helm of the Commission on Elections following the resignation of erstwhile chairman Benjamin Abalos, said the poll body will hold a command conference with the military and the policemen next Wednesday in Camp Crame to discuss the possible election hot spots or areas where violence may occur.

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