By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered its field offices to investigate the alleged interference of local officials in the recently concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
“Chairman (George) Garcia issued a directive to all our directors to gather and start the investigation on these people that meddled, interrupted, and applied pressure during our electoral processes. During our meeting earlier, he ordered the gathering of the names of these officials and politicians and have them submitted to his office,” Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said in an interview with reporters on Monday.
He said they received initial reports of politicians, including mayors, meddling in the Bicol Region and Northern Mindanao, among others.
Among the supposed acts of meddling include pressuring Electoral Board members and Comelec personnel, attempts to prevent proclamation of winners, threats of violence, and unnecessary presence in polling places.
He noted that Garcia would like cases to be filed as soon as possible and “resolve all cases filed within three weeks.”
“All of them may face election offense if their actions involve threat, coercion, and violence. All of these are provided under Section 261 (of the Omnibus Election Code),” the poll body spokesperson said.
In case charges would be filed, Laudiangco said it would be the first time that they would run after local officials for such offenses.
“This would be the very first time that the Comelec will perform its mandate and make sure that all those that disturbed the elections, whether elected or private citizens, will be held accountable and face charges,” Laudiangco said.
