Antique is zeroing in on the peaceful conduct of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) following the activation of the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) and its municipal counterparts on Thursday.
“PJSCC takes care of the security aspect of the BSKE. It implements pronouncements of the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns,” said Provincial Election Supervisor Salud Milagros Villanueva, who chairs the Antique PJSCC, in an interview on Friday.
Villanueva said security plans have been laid down during their coordination meeting on Aug. 24 at the Police Provincial Command in San Jose de Buenavista to ensure no election-related incidents will happen during the duration of the election period.
Joining the conference were the Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO), the 61st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, and the Antique Coast Guard Station.
“There will be establishment of police checkpoints in the 18 towns at the first hour of August 28, which is the first day of the election period with the start of the filing of certificate of candidacies (COCs),” she said.
She said checkpoints will ensure that there will be a peaceful, orderly, and safe BSKE.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices in Antique are open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. to receive COCs, she added.
“Comelec will still cater to candidates who are within the premises even after 5 p.m.,” Villanueva said.
The Comelec official also reminded candidates of the strengthened campaign against vote-buying that could result in disqualification and imprisonment once they are found guilty of the violation.
Antique Police Provincial Office Deputy Director for Administration Lt. Col. Willy Diel, in a press conference on Thursday, urged the public to cooperate during checkpoints because they will only be conducting visual inspections.
“Our police personnel will be in their proper uniforms so they can be easily identified,” he said.
In the same media conference, 61st Infantry Battalion commanding officer Lt. Col. Arturo Balgos, Jr. said they will strengthen their combat operations against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) operating in the towns of Sibalom, San Remigio, and Valderrama to ensure that there will be no violence that could affect the BSKE.
“We will have close and constant communication with the PJSCC to ensure the success of the elections,” Balgos said.
Antique Coast Guard Commander Lieutenant Senior Grade Rey Anacita also assured the safe transport of ballot boxes to voting centers in the island towns of the province. (PNA)
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